Our favorite.

We love Sundance--lots of memories. The girls and I met Chris and Paul, who had been biking all afternoon, for a chairlift ride and dinner. The trees are turning orange and red, the aspens will turn yellow later in the fall.








Here we are, all happy as can be! Chris dirty and worn out from biking, me with my camera, Presley with a sucker, and Stella saying "WEEEEEE" the whole time riding the lift.

A bit fuzzy . . .

. . . but that is me as a baby! My guess is 8 months. My sister in law has been scanning in all of our old family photos, and I need her to scan in all of my old pics--remember the days before digital?

Just don't ask me to share the ridiculous "hair" pictures from junior high and high school. It is so BIG.

First Day.

Presley's first day of preschool was today. She attends Wasatch Dance Preschool and will participate in dance and karate along with all the other preschool things you do--story time, alphabet, crafts, music, show and tell. Her teachers are Miss Vicki and Miss Tina and she already has a friend in class, our neighbor Elle.

Ready to go!

Presley and Elle, coloring and waiting for us moms and our cameras to leave.

This morning as we were taking pictures Presley kept telling me that I had to leave her there and that I couldn't stay--she is definitely ready to leave the nest. Chris and I just can't believe how quickly this is all happening.

Forward facing!

Stella is nearly 19 pounds! All thanks to the pancreatic enzymes she is now taking that help her digest food. She is eating predigested proteins, oats, turkey, apple sauce, and bananas. The only side effect has been a case of hemorrhoids--it is so painful to even watch her go to the bathroom. Poor Stella!

Soon we are going to add in another food--the doctor thinks that in about 6 months her digestive systems will be developed enough to be off the enzymes and eating everything a normal toddler should.


For now I am happy for silent nights, a good eater, and a baby who is nearly walking (she can do a few steps at a time but still prefers to crawl). Stella is now, finally, facing forward in her car seat--everyone is happy.

No naps . . .

. . . for a couple of weeks equals a worn out little 3 year old. Just the other day she fell asleep on the couch while we were getting dinner ready.

The new plan for when school starts is up at 7 AM, no naps, and to bed at (or before) 7:30 PM. We are all exhausted.

Children's Museum.

With most schools in session, and still a week's wait until Presley starts preschool, we decided to take a trip to the Gateway Discovery Children's Museum. The pictures say it all (sorry for so may--I am testing out the new camera).








The girls had fun and we couldn't leave without something to remember our time by--Presley got an Automoblox car (in pink that daddy helped her put together) and Stella got a green ball with lady bugs on it. Stella's new favorite thing to say and play with is any kind of ball!

Not Going to Happen.

With Chris driving up and down the canyon everyday to coach, he has renewed his interest in getting a motorcycle. To scratch that itch we made a quick trip to the BMW dealership.



Presley loved the motorcycles. So did Chris. I think this is about as close to getting one as he will get. I did like to orange color though . . .

Has it really been . . .

10 years?!?!?


After a day at the pool--I have sunburned baby hand prints on my legs--and an afternoon of relaxing, we celebrated with dinner at one of our favorites, Bombay House and then home-made dessert. Yes, this picture was taken with my new camera (this is the last in a series of trying to get a good "date night/anniversary shot", Chris was done). Thanks!

Here's to at least 10 more!

15 months.

Here's what we know about Stella at 15 months:

• 18 pounds (barely!)
• 29.5 inches long

Stella loves to climb onto and off of anything she can--chairs, couches, beds (tricky to get down)--she likes to swing but can get a bit nervous if she is too high, LOVES to give kisses, is a loud screamer, and we are still trying to work out her tummy issues.

Lately Stella has learned to stand up from a squat position, ride her Wheely Bee, and push around the kid-sized chair like a walker (she is not yet walking on her own).

I still love her toothy smiles!

Learning.

Presley is learning to READ! This is the very same book my mom used to teach my little brother how to read, and so far it has been a good start. It uses Phonics rather than word recognition, which I feel will be a better foundation for actually learning to read/knowing the theory vs. only recognizing words.

We start each day with a 20 minute lesson--we do it in our pjs in bed, before anyone else is up (no distractions). We are taking it slow and easy but I think Presley is having fun.