Contagious!

So I got a new crazy sweet camera! It was a huge surprise and I'm super excited about it even though I know nothing about photography. . . . yet! Travis had saved up for it for 6 months without me knowing and gave it to me last month as an early apology for being gone so much this hunting season (leaving this big ol' pregnant girl to huff and puff while simply trying to get through the days as a single mama). I've had so much fun playing around with my new present! So don't mind if these pictures are not considered good photography, or even close! I'm just having a blast taking fun pictures of my girls.  Thank you Travis!!  I love you so much, and this will definitely entertain me while you're gone :)

 

These pictures are mostly from our recent trip to good old West Jordan.  Like usual, we had such a great time with my family.  We went to a Rhodes family reunion, ate some yummy food, played in the little pool with Uncle Randy, and the best part was hearing Grandpa's band play.  Yeah Contagious!  The girls loved showing off their sweet moves dancing to the music. 

 

Family Reunion with Rhodes (I guess I only took pics of my immediate family because I'd just barely gotten the camera and was trying to learn the basics) Kinda lame I missed the big picture with everyone else, but it was still lots of fun:

 

Uncle Randy:

 

Brielle LOVES this guy.  She always has to have a picture of him in her room, and she pretends to talk to him on the phone ALL of the time.  He's such a good sport to play with my girls so much.

 

This is 100% Taylee Jane.  She always sucks on her thumb with her pointer finger over her nose.

 

My brothers.  Randy & Ryan:

 

And my adorable nephew Cayson.  This picture cracks me up because he actually looks bored while being thrown in the air! Love this :)

 

 

 

 Swimmin' Time:

I'm loving the "sports" mode on my camera!  Maybe a little too much. .. . . . . I made Randy jump over the girls like 6 times just because I was so fascinated by this setting!  (Apparently I haven't figured out how to re- size any of my pictures properly because all of them seem a little blurry on the blog but prior to that they looked better - sorry about that.)

 

Poor guy.  I seriously made him jump over the pool 4 times! 

 

 

"Contagious" playing at Daybreak:

Tay bug has perfect little cheeks doesn't she?!

 

Sweet:

 

I will always request to hear "Wipeout" just to watch my Dad's arms fly though his drum solo.  My favorite by far!  It's so fun to watch his intensity. 

 

Dancing Queen:

 

My Dad's band always throws in some kiddie songs and even dancing competitions along with their classic rock.  It's ALWAYS a hit.

 

 

Dress Ups in the Rain 

That's the best part about being a little girl, isn't it?!

 

 

What Goes Around. . . .

Definitely come around!  After receiving a mouse as a white elephant gift, we thought it'd be funny if we left it on the doorstep of our friends house.  Yeah that came back to bite me in the butt.  I'm just glad I didn't drop the jar after unwrapping this thoughtful "present" in my home!  Thanks Gardners!

 

 

Game Time:

Marble racing requires A LOT of concentration:

 

Is it so wrong of me to envy my daughter's eyelashes?

 

 

Jumpin' Monkeys

 

 

Bunny Love

 

I told Taylee not to touch.  So she immediately touches them of course.

 

Brielle was a little bit more obedient as usual, but she still thought it was hilarious that Taylee wasn't!

 

And this is what happens when I tell Taylee to pose for the camera!



If All the Raindrops Were Lemon Drops and Gum Drops!

We have been outside playing in the rain a lot lately.  Nothing better than summer rain!!

Brielle thought she was so tricky trying to catch rain in her mouth while swinging at the same time :)

Yet another lightning storm to watch from the trampoline while Taylee Jane snoozed away.

Brielle still talks about our "special time" watching the magic in the sky!

Of course we had to learn and sing ALL of the rainy day songs on this particular day.  This picture was during the "If All the Raindrops Were Lemon Drops" song.  The girls LOVED it. 

Brielle experienced her first day of pampering!  My friend Jimilyn came over and did Bree's toenails and fingernails.  Brielle felt like a princess!

Her VERY first haircut!  She did awesome.

I almost forgot to post my 24th of July pics.  It was a perfect day!  We started off with the Monroe parade with Grandma and Grandpa which was so much fun for my kiddos because they actually got a chance to catch candy! Taylee was in Heaven.  She kept popping tootsie's in her mouth as fast as her hands could unwrap them.

Even Taylee has learned how to put her hand over her heart as the flag goes by.  Love it!

Brielle said she wants to be a drummer just like her Grandpa Rizzo!  It was so cute:

After a delicious BBQ and nice long naps, we played in the pool:

Best friends:

We also had the fun opportunity of going on a mini vacation with our friends Clayton and Shanda Brown.  We took the kids and headed up to Brian Head so the boys could do their archery shoot.  Clayton and Travis are a little outnumbered with all of these girls around.  6 1/2 girls vs two boys.  Not quite ideal for our avid outdoors men!

Brielle, Taylee, Luxi, and Shanda:

Breezy, Maddix, and Taylee (These girls were instant best friends.  They were hilarious to listen to.  Taylee was a little bit left out but didn't mind too much because she has this obsession with babies, so she followed Shanda around all day everyday asking to hold sweet little Luxi):

We had fun swimming in the "Cacoozi" as the girls called it.

While Taylee practiced being a little "mommy" making sure everything was perfect for the baby:

Playground.  I love watching men push their kids on the swings ;)

On our way home we all stopped at the aquatic center.  It was the perfect way to end our little trip.

My kids always seem to turn into bowling balls or slingshots when my husband is around.  I was kinda jealous though because it actually looked really fun!

The Brown's were having some family time with little Luxi in the pool but Taylee just couldn't resist running over to that sweet little newborn.  I don't know whether to be nervous or excited about how "helpful" she wants to be with newborns!

Daddy - Daughter:

Here's the proof that I did in fact actually swim.  I'm super self conscious about how swollen and huge I am everywhere so I currently cringe at pictures of myself, but I did in fact take part in the family fun.

These girls giggled and squealed the entire weekend. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the last little bit of summer as much as we are!