A random iphone update...

...cause the papparazzi are not always around with their cameras ;)

In his hanes...just like a boy...watching tv and holding on to his goods.

Enjoying an ice cream date our little family had after an afternoon of swim :)

Cold face but eyeing my ice cream cone!

And he wins...

Mabelle wanted Cash as her little Prince, so here he is....the Little Prince. He loved that cape!

Playing makeup...Mabelle putting gloss on her lips. Cash putting gloss up his nose.

Happy 18 Months Cash!

Cash is 18months today. He is doing so much! He now says please, thanks, help, up, bye bye, hon, honey (those are towards Daddy...lol), bath, ball, pooooop, all done, more, mom, happy, max&ruby, uh-oh, cheeeeese...taco, pancake, bagel, Mabelle, chi-chi (the last ones are repeated words...but that's better than 2weeks ago when he refused to repeat!). Not everyone can understand all of them, but believe me, he says them! YAY (I'm sure I left a few out)! He cheeses for the camera, pinches when he's mad, and listens only half of the time (but he's a boy and I think that declines as he gets older, right?? hee hee). He loves Max&Ruby, pringles, bagels with cream cheese, standing on the ottoman, blocks and climbing the stairs...oh and toilet water (grosssssss, but true. Sissie found him soaked head-to-toe playing with his pacifier in the toilet, while today I had to grunt/lecture/gross-him-out about touching tinkle in the potty while Mabs is going potty.) He's got a really fun personality, and is laid-back just like his daddy. He really enjoys his Rollie Pollie class and is the teacher's pet (he gets to demonstrate every week!!). He makes us laugh all the time, even Mabelle...here's her pick for his 18month old picture:

He's saying 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese'...it cracked all of us up!

Blowing sugar/kisses...sweet boy!

A more subdued...'eeeeeeeeeeeese'.

I've got the World on a String...

IT'S RECITAL TIME AGAIN!! Today was dress rehearsal for the big day August 1. I figured I'd go ahead and post the pics since I probably won't get great pics at the recital of her close-up and NOT a mess (she gets dropped off at 10am, and has two shows to make it thru). We got there early today to help her sweet friend, Kennedy with her hair and makeup. And I realized that I am no good doing baby fine hair like Kennedy and Mabelle's...well no good in term a a sleek bun. So thank goodnes they had a seasoned dancer there who knows her way around a bottle of hairspray, bobbie pins and buns. She did the girls hair awesome and I, then, applied the recital makeup (red lipstick, pink blush, and a leeeetle eyeshadow). Of course Mabelle's FAVORITE part was the makeup. All the girls were great and adorable and sooooo do not know their routine well enough, but part of a 3-5year old dance class recital is the hilarity that many will NOT know their routine and instead just stand there and look cute---Mabelle is an expert at that!! Enjoy the sneak preview of the recital :)

Cutie Kennedy, she's in a different dance class. They have the WILDEST costume.

Mabelle actually enjoying getting her hair done...CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!?!?!

Sitting still and listening...it was amazing!

The full costume...complete with beak-like sequined hat...I think Kennedy's mom got a pic of them together. I did not :(

My pretty ballerina

So excited for her makeup!!

SUPER happy about her makeup.

The bun :)

The class watching the big girls perform.
Is she nervously fidgeting?? Hahahahaha

Without the flash...if you zoom in, the forced smiles are AWE-SOME. Almost cringe-worthy.

with the flash :)

Posing AFTER the professional was done taking his pics.

Mabelle was talking about her Daddy (when asked if she liked boys), and how much she liked him. She was the ONLY girl who said she liked her Daddy...doesn't get any sweeter.

Cuties

Showing off her princess twirl.

Just cute

Lining up for the dance...Mabelle's the leader.

Group hug with her dancing friends.

Posing for her beautiful self.

Thank You!

This past Sunday, my dad had a seizure (we thought it was a stroke...for 2 days)! I just wanted to say a million thank you's for all the support, prayers, thoughts, advice, & help! It was an emotional few days and he went home from the hospital on Tuesday. He's getting some well-deserved rest at home now. Thank you again!!!

Where's my fammily??

We had more visitors this past week, and again it was GREAT!! This time we had our Aunt Sissie (I'm not allowed to call her Shari...'that's NOT her name, mama!!'), Gruncle Chris (when you're a great uncle, that's the name you get, only cause you're that great :)), cousins Izzie-bell and Nick and their wonderful friends, Kayla and Sam. So it was 6 extra people at the house, but it was awesome. Really awesome. Houseguests who cook breakfast for you EVERY morning (homemade pancakes, waffles, bacon--note to self, don't eat 8 pieces really fast cause heartburn will ensue, homemade muffins, sausage), cook fabulous alfredo (yummmm...so glad I have lots of leftovers!), and then on top of everything else...CLEAN the night before they leave--EVEN THE BATHROOM! FAB-U-LOUS!!!! The kids were great, I can't believe their energy. They played with the kids nonstop, taught Cash new words, Mabelle a new song, Mabelle new tap steps (thanks to the dancer, Miss Kayla), played games, helped with stories/bedtime/swimming...I mean, anything you can think of they were doing it!! It's wonderful to have kids visit who love to hang and play with the babies, and even help take care of them (diaper changes, potty breaks included!). I really can't brag on the kids enough...they were great!! You can see how involved they were in the slideshows below.

And then the itenerary in a nutshell....it was a busy, busy week!
Wed, arrived;
Thurs, lots of shopping & Cirque show for the big kids;
Fri, Planet Hollywood shopping, swimming, Fray concert;
Sat, gymnastics, Red Rock Canyon, gambling for the adults while the kids babysat;
Sun, Mirage Dolphin habitat, Silverton/Bass Pro lunch, swimming, David Copperfield show (where Kayla was pulled on stage!!);
Mon, Nick got tattooed, swimming;
Tues, Hoooover Dam and swimming..and another night of Alfredo;
Wed, left at 530 am...with a send off from Cash :)

And I know I forgot a ton of things...but here's the slideshows...one for pictures from hanging at the house and one for being out and about.

A room makeover and a creeeeepy doll

We got a new sectional this week and moved our old furniture (which we still love) to the front loungin' room. This sectional gives us more space for house guests and is darker (which is waaaaay better with kids). Anyhoo...we decided to finally paint the living room and the ugly red-violet kitchen wall (it looks more red in these pics but believe me it was not). While getting our GREAT deal on our sectional, Mabelle discovered that the mom&pop furniture store had a doll collection and asked the nice salesman for a doll...if her dad could buy one. He was THE nicest salesman and asked her which one she wanted and just gave it to her. It's a really nice doll...but a tad creepy. She calls her Dorothy. She takes care of her, dances with her and sleeps with her.

Dancing with Dorothy.

Talking to Dorothy.
Before the makeover...that's the one red-violet kitchen wall.

Vanilla living room...we had already moved the off-white furniture out. It was a pretty blah room.

AFTER! Painted three walls a light gray (with some blue undertones)...got an area rug and new couch and pillow...that sectional is HUGE, soft and awe-some!
The other living room wall and kitchen wall are now a darker gray...looks blue in this light. But it is gray and a MAJOR improvement!!

Bonding...

...over the idea that neither kid wants to wear clothes. Nice.

Watching Ice Age.

His face is hilarious.

Not sure if he's hugging her, or she's holding him down.

She was so proud of her chocolate mustache!

Two slideshows...

We took a quick trip to Missouri this past week and had a great time visiting with our niece (our first meeting with beautiful, sweet Matylda) and all the rest of our MO families!! I think the pictures speak for themselves...there are two slideshows (this is only two cameras worth of pics and the amount of good pictures is ridiculous...I think 70-80 in the two slideshows!!!). Besides some pukies going and coming home..such a fun little trip (and a great deal...hello $29 flights).

Enjoy...there are tons!! And tons I didn't even share :(