September 2010

We were up at Graff's arena when I noticed all 3 girls had their cowgirl boots on with shorts. I think its adorable and we caught the lighting just right! Jaxson help my off-camera flash and we worked on getting my own little missy to cooperate. I just had to include a blooper because it helps make the good ones worth the wait! Aren't they adorable?!

The Dixie Round-Up is the Pro Rodeo in St. George and we had fun sitting at the parade and attending Friday nite with Nate's parents. Charlize loves wearing her sunglasses since Nate always wears his and she is just so cute!!

The stands aren't roomy at all and I was worried that Charlize wouldn't sit still, but she did great! It was 'tough enough to wear pink' night and they even painted some of the arena pink.

Charlize and cousin Addison are simply adorable when they get to be together! Charlize almost always brings a 'tutu' to share with Addi and they play together. (well, still working on that at times we are more the referee's but o, well) More time together will help with that!

August 2010

Charlize is now sleeping in her twin bed - no more crib! She is such a crazy sleeper - this morning she pushed the safety gate away from the side of the bed and her head is under the blanket towards the bottom of the bed. We went back to just sleeping with blankets since we didn't like how far she was under there (bottom of the bed tucked in) and thought she needs her freedom to roll as she pleases.
No more high-chair! She refuses to sit in it and loves sitting at the table with us. Yep, thats a phone book she's sitting on-the original booster seat. Yummy Ramin Noodles, she loves them!

This sleepy girl decided to take a nap on the couch. When she started to wake up Daddy snuggled in with her. So cute!

Bath time! She loves her baths and putting in the Elmo bubbles. She's not a complete fan of having the water dumped on her head so we've been working on that when we go swimming.

Her favorite movie is "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron" and we watch it EVERYDAY! She has her favorite parts and comments on them everytime "baby" "he's swimming" "oh no!" and I love to hear her little giggles as she watches! This day she fell asleep watching it and while wearing tutu's is a daily event, this was adorable! She has her boots on, tutu and stick horse by her. As well as a bear. What a spunky little cowgirl! At least she recharges with great naps!!

Up to Pine Valley we went and Kimber came to play!! 2 weekends in a row! The first one we visited and the 2nd Kyle and Nate went on a long horseride up the mountain. Kimber and Charlize both love being by the horses and of course riding the fourwheelers or Rhino. Brinlee did way better at taking more pictures and I'm so glad because they're soo cute together!
On Sunday, we went for a family ride around Pine Valley, Daizy came too and she thinks that she should ride up front with Charlize. Can you see her expression? Charlize just didn't like if Daizy stepped on her, but she loves having Daizy around!

24th of July

We went to Panguitch for one day to go to a roping and got to go with Doug and Mary Tebbs to their family ranch up there. I just love going to Panguitch! But this was even better! It was like a min Wyoming with all that green grass, blue skies and mountains. (No I didn't get to go to my favorite place this summer so it helped with some of the withdraws). We went for a four wheeler ride out to check the cows.

After Panguitch we headed to Nate's parent's cabin in Pine Valley. Oh, it was so nice to be there! Charlize had fun playing in the dog's bed (rarely used except by her).

Hanging out, outside. It really is SOO nice to get out of the stifling heat in St. George and just enjoy the cooler weather! Yes, I have a jacket on in July (I am such a wimp!)

Photography Workshop

I was able to attend another workshop put on by Emily Clark of Wink Fotos, but this one was in Salt Lake and covered alot more than the previous one in March. Nate was a dear and said he'd drive me up there and back (that half paycheck was coming and we're trying to be better about spending). I thought it was in Provo, but thankfully double checked the night before or I could have been really late! Charlize stayed with my mom and we had a nice drive up there. We got to the general area with 45 minutes to spare, so we took a walk around trying to figure out where we'd be. I completely prefer overgrown grass, pastures and rusty cars to the city, but there really is such a variety of places in a 1 block radius it would have been fun to do a shoot there! I took this picture while we were walking around, behind us is a painting of books stacked in a row. The workshop began and Nate just hung out by the truck. Emily was suggesting him to just come with us (I did too, but he didn't believe me that it'd be ok) so he actually came to the workshop with me :) He talked to Emily's husband, held the umbrellas, and hung out. It was nice to have him there - learning what I was (especially when we came home he knew what I was talking about).
It was the only weekend in July we weren't at a roping somewhere out of town, so a quick trip to SLC and a fun time with my hubby.

If you'd like to see the pictures on my Photography blog from the workshop, GO HERE!

Cute Cousins

July 21st, 2010

These two truely have SO much fun together! We are at the 'learning how to share is rough at times' stage but this was not one of those times. Charlize LOVES to wear 'tutus' (which includes a few petticoats) and the pink, purple, green one Addi always wears so Charlize thinks its hers when she comes to play. We have a couple hats around as practical decoration (practical because they do get used when going to ride horses) and a few extras they were playing with this day. :) O silly girls, we love your cute smiles and personalities!

We also went swimming and got Addi to wear arm floaties. Charlize is a pro at swimming with her puddle jumper (truely a great invention!) and loves to just go on her own now. Una (my mom), Aunt Enore (Eleanore), Aunt Soni, Addi and Babies Fallon and Brekan (buns in the oven) all went swimming together. :)

Swimming Fun

Before we get to the swimming, I have to share and adorable outfit Charlize put together herself. I can't remember exactly how those leggings got in there, but she constantly wears her tutus and boots around the house. I, of course, could not get her to look at me or hold still but she's still cute!
Ok, now to swimming. We went swimming ALOT because she is a little fish and loves water. When we went camping at Bryce Canyon, the Graff's had these 'Puddle Jumpers' swimming/floating device that I thought was cool. The foam swimsuit thing doesn't keep her head up, but this allows for total movement and safety. It took 3 times swimming with it till she jumped off the step and into the water. That's the movie at the bottom of the post.

We swam in the backyard pool too. I was trying to get her a new swimsuit at the beginning of the season and could only find a 2T or 5T at wally-world the day I was set to get one. So I figured bigger is better than smaller - 'cause she'll grow into it. I really thought it would be WAY too big, but I hope she's not cursed with my two torsos and is long bodied. I know its big on her, but its not as big as I thought it would be.

We had Parker and Breken over to swim a couple of times too!

Random Fun in July

James got his Eagle Project completed - the community map for Diamond Valley. We all had fun helping him at the end. Charlize had fun playing in the dirt and running around us all.

Charlize love to write - or 'coulor' as she calls anything she does with a marker, pen or crayon. It is so cun to watch her be so detailed and careful, staying inside the lines on the paper. Don't worry, not long after that thought as I took the pictures she started to get rambunxious and scribbled around a bit. :)

'Skeeter' has really started to calm down and although I doubted this would ever happen (because she's such an energetic horse), Charlize got to rider her by herself. If you look close at the pictures you can see Charlize is holding the reins and does her best to steer while walking. For the most part, Skeeter follows us as we walk away but it is so cute to watch her be so confident.

Charlize figured out how to take her arms out of her carseat straps and is quite proud of herself for doing it. This car seat requires a little more work to change the straps so they do need to be raised up, but she does it in my truck too. She didn't like the camera at first, so even though it would be nice to only always show the happy pictures - real life isn't like that. We love her just the same: sassy and happy.