Mia is doing fantastic at 18 months old! She still loves to run and play with her brothers- just like a big kid- only now she can actually keep up. She is a pro at walking and enjoys dancing and trying jump up and down. She also likes to swim (all by herself using her puddle jumper floaties) in Grandpa and Grandma's pool! She loves to 'sing' and can say a few words like "doggie, Lola, downstairs, love you, sorry, bapa (grandpa), (grandma still sounds like a different "ma"), papa, nana, dance, bye-bye, hi, night-night..." Now if only she'd remember to use her words...usually when she wants something she SCREAMS repeatedly until we guess what it is. I kind of prefer the 'grunting/pointing' that the boys did at that age...She has even tried her hand at a little potty training...though we're not taking that seriously for a while. She made the switch to a twin bed with guard rail this month too (I just found out her crib was recalled). She does great in the bed- as long as she is actually tired she just lays down and goes right to sleep- no fussing necessary!

Her favorite things:
PINK anything. If it's pink she will try to run off with it- no matter what it is.
Baby dolls
Dogs
Horses
Swimming
Music and dancing
Coloring!
Painting her toenails
Brushing her teeth 100x a day

Dislikes:
Being left out
Sitting still
Being quiet
Sharing
Getting her hair styled


And finally her 18 mos. stats:
Weight- 22lbs 3.5oz- 19%
Height- 33 & 3/4 Inches- 82%
Head- 18 1/2 inches- 63%
(Turns out they measured her head wrong before- so nothing to worry about!)

This summer Tyler has had a LOT of work trips out of town, but he was able to come home for the weekend and we got to spend it with our friends, the Hornes at their cabin in Causey! It was so beautiful there and it was nice to get away- almost 3 days without my PHONE!! They are so much fun to hang out with- we watched movies, played games, went on walk and rode some 4 wheelers. The kids always love to play with Misses C and P- they get along great! Even Lola got to come and she LOVED being able to wander a little and play outside. Since I didn't have my phone I didn't get any pics :( (I need a new camera!!) I think I can borrow some from the Hornes though...I'll update then.

On Monday we went to Clearfield's 4th of July Celebration at Fisher Park. It was WAY fun- there was the community band, people watching (better than Wal-Mart!), and a cover band that was pretty fun too! The kids were good and loved dancing to the music. Since Tyler had to be out of town for work, Grandpa Kent (Grandma Diana had to be in bed early for work) and my Grandma Carolyn were there to help- the kids really enjoyed spending that time with them!

Here is Mia's 'cheese' she looks so grown up!

And the boys- so handsome!

Kaden getting some quality Grana time

Grandpa and Grandma gave the kids these awesome light toys- a good way to entertain them!

I was a little nervous about how Mia would react to the fireworks but she did great! She giggled and squealed with delight- then quickly began trying to stay awake by running around incessantly...something Kyson clearly didn't think of since he was asleep on Grana about 5 minutes into the show. Kaden sat on Grandpa's lap so he would cover Kaden's ears as they watched...he has always hated loud noises!

The show was spectacular- I got a little teary during "God Bless America, " I think that must be my favorite patriotic song.
This is something I am particularly sensitive about now that so many people are trying to take 'God' out of everything- it's just not right. The founding fathers knew what they were doing when they included Him throughout our humble beginnings as a country. I don't think a small minority has the right to exclude Him from our money, our pledge of allegiance, or any other arena.

On a lighter note- here is a cute video of Kyson and Mia having fun during the concert-

Recently one of Tyler's college buddies moved back to Utah and we've been having a blast hanging out with them!

We went to breakfast at Sill's for A's birthday-

And they were nice enough to have us to their cabin in Causey- the kids had so much fun playing for 2 days straight!

Marshmallows and hotdogs on the fire

We're so glad they moved back--We <3 hanging with them!

This year Kyson was able to do his first swim lessons sans-mommy! He had a good time clowning around with the other kids and spent the time getting used to the water. He even made a new girlfriend- whom he tried to kiss after about 2 lessons! His cute little teacher was clearly smitten as well- she favored him a little- he is such a charmer!

(The happy couple)

Kaden is an old pro at swim lessons- this was his 3rd year...sadly I don't have a picture of him because on the last day when I took them he was learning swim safety rather than swimming. Oh well- he did AWESOME and he actually gets to skip a level next time! He is swimming all over the place now loving it.

When I was about 13 I had a best friend named Bill. She (yes SHE- also known as Marilyn) was (still is) so awesome and we shared lots of fun times together. As we grew up we got busier and went to separate high schools but we have been able to keep touch some and now she lives about 1.5 hrs away in Provo.

It doesn't seem that far but it really IS- we don't get together as much as we should. She had created a whole new person since I'd seen her last- miss Eliza was born in April. So this month I had to go and see the baby and catch-up. We hung out at her house and then visited the BYU paleontology museum. (Kaden was SO excited to see the stadium- he said, "MOM! That's BYU!!")

Here are the boys with her son, Josh, and the giant crocodile skull

And again with the Triceratops

It was so great to see them again and meet little Eliza! Love you guys!

This year we ventured out on our second attempt at a Drive-In movie with the kids. If you don't know, last year was a disaster- well actually it was fine until after the first movie when Kyson threw up his Chili-Cheese Fritos- ALL OVER my neck as we cuddled. (Needless to say that is a snack I no longer enjoy).


Anyway it took a whole year but we finally convinced Tyler to take us again. We saw Kung-Fu Panda 2 and Thor!

Kaden & MiJo waiting for dusk

Kyson passing the time pant-less (dress code at this drive in IS pretty lax)

We had a good time this year- thanks Ty for taking us!

This year Kaden went to Bravo for Pre-Kindergarten. He went 4 day s a week for a couple of hours and really had a great time learning a LOT of stuff! We are so proud of him and how much he has grown in this last school year.

This is a video of him performing his very first piano piece in front of TONS of parents and kids. He was the first to go and handled it like a pro! (He learned a little piano in school and is continuing lessons with me this summer).

And here he is receiving his graduation medal

He is a great reader now too- he can read just about anything with minimal to no help. His favorite books are Danny and the Dinosaur, and anything by Dr. Seuss. Next year he will be attending Kindergarten at North Davis Prep Academy- he can't wait to learn Spanish there! We are so excited for him- he loves to learn and we know he'll do great!