Our Trip Part I

We've returned from our first driving vacation in 5 years. Our drive was one big loop-- home to Salt Lake City; SLC to Reno; Reno to Tahoe; Tahoe to Sacramento; then back home again. We were a little nervous about how the kids would do. Finley had a bit of a rough time, I believe because she is still rear-facing in her car seat, but all in all the kids did great!

Avery with her neck pillow.....$2 well spent!

Finley--8 1/2 months old

Bridget and her cousin Ashleigh

Finley with Grandma

Finley and Avery with Aunt Tamsen

Avery

Bridget and Ashleigh with baby Tyler

Megan

Kevin

4th of July

Just a few snapshots from our fabulous 4th of July....

Girls Only Movie Night....(plus dad's)

We had our fellow 3 daughter family over for dinner, movie and games.

These girls love each other....so cute.

1/2 Marathon #4

Here are me and my girls shortly after completion of the half-marathon. I finished, but about 10 minutes slower than my previous 3 (pre-Finley). I'm running another one in October so I have 2 1/2 months to cut down on my time.

Class Pics Part II

Avery had her end of the year class pictures done for preschool. I love this picture. By the look of it, I'm guessing it's hard to keep a group of 3 year-olds happy, smiling, and still. But here is my Avery, with a big grin. That's her-- always happy and enthusiastic. She loved preschool this year and loved her teachers Miss Linda and Miss Susanna.

Class Picture

Bridget came home today with her Kindergarten class picture. (She is in the second row; brown and white striped shirt). For some reason they do the class picture at the end of the school year, separate from the individual pictures (which were taken in October). I can't believe her Kindergarten year is almost over and soon she will be in 1st grade. :(

The Best Big Sister

I wanted to post this mainly for journaling purposes....I want to keep a record of Bridget's love for her baby sister Finley. When I was pregnant, Bridget made it very clear that she expected to get a baby brother. After our 19 week ultrasound, Patrick and I talked about how we would "break the news" to Bridget that we were having another girl. Today, while Bridget was holding her 6 months-old sister, she said to me "Mom, if you change your mind and have another baby, I want another sister." I asked why she wouldn't want a brother and she responded with "Because I want another baby as sweet as baby Finley." As a mom, it makes my heart melt to see them together. Finley is the first one Bridget wants to see when she comes home from school each day. When we run errands, Bridget jumps up at each stop to take Finley out of her car seat and hold her. She truly loves her Baby Tootaloo.

Finley has become Bridget's muse for photography. Here are a few photos she took with Finley in a laundry basket. :)

Then I asked to take a picture of the best big sister.