Audrey is the new Ansel Adams

Audrey is obsessed with the camera. She wants to take pictures all day long. I've found that I have to hide it all the time because she has gone through 2 sets of batteries and filled up the memory card twice with random pictures of nothing. I thought it might be fun to post some of the random pictures that actually looked okay...so you can see for yourself her picture taking abilities. You are in for a real treat! Watch out Ansel, here she comes.

Mom getting ready

And Mom talking on the phone


Lauren's Lovely Profile


Audrey wearing one of my shoes


The toilet being flushed...good thing it was clean

Lauren's Birthday Bash

To celebrate Lauren's 2nd birthday, we had a party at the park! All the cousins came and we played on the park toys and had cake, ice cream, and lots of presents! I made Lauren panda bear cupcakes (with help from my friend Teresa) and it was quite the project. They turned out pretty dang cute, but...of course not exactly like the pictures in the book! I'm my own worst critic. Lauren had a great time, and she loved all the new loot. She made out like a bandit! We're glad our family came to celebrate with us!

The panda bear cupcakes


Lauren opening all the loot!


Audrey helping...of course


Cute Lauren Lou who's now TWO!

She's my Yankee Doodle Gal

We've found one of Utah's best kept secrets. Fourth of July in Huntsville, Utah. It's the best! We love the small town celebrations! The day starts with a 5K Independence Day Run, which I, my sister-in-law Steph and her husband Rocky participated in. Then at 10am we all crowd main street and watch the 30 minute parade...yes only 30 minutes! That can't be beat. The kids catch candy and we have a great time watching all the old tractors go by. Then it's volleyball, BBQ's and...later on...dancing until fireworks start at 10pm in the park. It's the best seat in the house. The highlight of the day for the girls was a sweet little basset hound puppy that another family brought up. The girls couldn't keep their hands off her, especially Lauren. Her name is Molly and she melted our hearts! But, if you know us...you know we're partial to those basset hounds! What a great day! We are so glad the Harper's include us every year!

Audrey chillaxin' in the hot tub...

Lauren Lou and Dee Dee too...


Volleyball time...


Grandma Meems, Grandpa Roger and Aunt Stacey watching the volleyball action...

Cute Molly being attacked by all of us...

A Little Randomness

The summer months are here...and for me that spells craziness! So, that said...this short post is filled with some random pictures from the last 2 months!

We begin with car ride pictures...we love those!

One evening we were invited to a BBQ at our family friend's house...the Olson's. We love the Olson's and their exciting fish pond! Audrey couldn't get enough of it. Dave has one of the fish trained to come up and nibble his fingers when he puts them in the water. Audrey found this very exciting and I had to catch a picture of them playing in the pond together. So sweet! Dave is also the candy man. Audrey always leaves his house with pockets full of candy...good or bad? I haven't decided yet! But, it's always fun!

Words can't explain how awesome Lauren looks when she gets herself dressed in the morning. This one was a winner...Audrey's tumbling shorts (half on mind you...and I think both feet were in the same leg too), no shirt, "grappy" hair (as Audrey calls it), and Audrey's flip flops on the wrong feet. Now that is serious talent!

And finally, pictures with cousin Sophie. Miss Sophie gets no rest when my girls are around. She is a cutie bug and both the girls adore her.

Little Lauren Lou is Two

Where did the last 2 years go? I don't know, but I'm so glad Lauren came to stay! She is such a sweet little one and she makes our lives so happy. It's amazing how different she and Audrey are. By this age Audrey and I were having conversations in complete sentences. Lauren is content to point and grunt. But, I know one day she's going to start talking and never stop...just like her sister. And, considering Lauren weighed in at almost a pound more than Audrey...9 lbs. 10 oz...she is a petite little thing. She doesn't look like a 2 year old to me, compared with how big Audrey was. Lauren is also quite good at beating up her sister. And, Audrey just cries in the corner...literally. It's drama all day at our house, but what do you expect with girls? And we sure love them!

Here's some of my favorite things about Lauren:

• She will climb up on your lap and squeeze your nose until you say "honk"...which could be a while if you aren't participating in the game.

• She loves, loves, loves dogs. She will ignore everything and everyone if there's a dog around.

• Lauren is my awesome sleeper...she has gone to bed by herself from the first day I brought her home from the hospital. But, just the other night she let me rock her to sleep. So, I get the best of both worlds!

• Since she doesn't talk much yet, I find it hilarious that she wanders around the house yelling, "MA!," at the top of her lungs when she can't find me or needs something.

• She also loves babies. Just ask cousin Sophie. She's always in her face, poking and prodding. She has her own little baby, and tomorrow will have her own stroller, to push around the house. She's obsessed with Audrey's and takes care of her baby all day long.

• I love when we turn onto a street that she knows is leading to some one's house that she loves, like Grandma's or Christa's street. She will start laughing and pointing and get so excited. It's hard not to join right in!

• I love, love, love her sweet noses and kisses that she gives me every day. I don't even have to ask.

• Lauren is my TV buddy. Sometimes at night we are too excited to sleep so she'll come sit on the couch and veg with me. She doesn't really watch TV, she just sits on my lap and plays with my hair or plays peek-a-boo. It's my favorite.

• She is the stool queen. She has her little green stool from IKEA and she takes it all over the house so she can reach all the things she's not supposed to. She even kneels on it at night to say her prayers...Audrey taught her that one. But, now we can't have prayers without it.

Happy Birthday Lauren Lou! We love you!!