Sleepover

Leighton and Taylor think spending the night at each other's house is pr-e-tt-y cool!  They even like to sleep in the same bed, just facing opposite directions. 

At the start of the night:

In the morning:

Yep, that's my girl: sideways with her shorts and high-heels still on. She is obsessed with shoes (wonder where she gets that from...) and wears them everywhre - even to bed.  The only way I can get her to take them off is with bribery - the best parenting tool known to man! Kidding...but it does work well!

Lake

Here's our little trip to Canyon Lake yesterday!

So much fun and just gorgeous boating weather!

(thanks Summer, as always, for taking pictures!)

Taylor (cousin), Leighton, Me

Taylor, Auntie Summer, Leighton

My Hubs, Taylor, Leighton, Me

Dancin'!

Jonny

Surprise

Pretending to sleep (like babies!)

Thinking they are pre-tty cool!

The big ride

And again...

Papa Ed and Me:  whooooaaa boy!!!

Rainbow

I've been meaning to share a very special concept.

If you've been through a miscarriage (mc), you probably  know about rainbow babies.

Simply put:  it is the conception of a baby after baby loss (miscarriage)

Extended version:

"Rainbow Baby" is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it doesn't mean the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy and hope

I have loved this idea of a "rainbow baby" since I miscarried. 

It's a special little twist in regards to a difficult time.

Buzz

My husband has the most amazing hair in the world....so you know it must be hot is Arizona if he wants to buzz it all off.  Well, that is exactly what he did:

Before



Are we really doing this?



Oops...Mary started with the wrong size...too short





After






A change...but still my handsome man!

Lake Powell

The last 3.5 days in Lake Powell were, well, AMAZING.  So relaxing...and we couldn't have asked for a better traveling toddler.  We only stopped once for gas and a potty break on the 5.5 hour ride up to the Lake and then again on the way home.  She slept in the RV like a trooper.  She hated the sand on her toes, but by the end was playing and splashing around in the water like every other kiddo there.  She even went tubing and wanted it "again" and thought it was "my turn" every time the boat stopped.  She snuck in a nap when she could (usually on the boat in someone's arms or even just sitting in a seat on the boat!).  She really was the best little water loving girl ever!

In mama's sunglasses on the way up!

Captain Leigh-Leigh (cost me M&Ms to get her to put that on!)

Me & Alex: girl time!

Leighton, Pat & Jarod

Daddy & Leighton (first ride!)

Here they go!

And they're off!

Hangin' out in the bunk (Cole, Keilan, Leighton)

Hangin' on the beach with daddy!

Daddy is funny!

Daddy cooking lobster and steak!

Lake view playing

Chalk time

We ventured to take a hike to...

Horseshoe bend - awesome!  A 32 yr old died last yr from falling over -eek!

The heat was weighing on Leighton....and me!

Hiking girls!

Daddy hiking with Leigh as close as we could dare

Tubing! Keilan, Alex and Leighton on the blue tube!

Leighton waving

Zoomed in

More tubing with Danette!

Jon & Pat: an afternoon bear in the air conditioning!

Yep...it was a good time had by all! 

When can we do it again?!