Gettin' My Craft On...

I had a good run of productivity and craftiness for a little while...it's ended now...my house is in shambles...but atleast I documented!  I had a few baby showers, so that always gets me going...and I decided that whatever I make for other people, I have to make for my own family within the same time frame.  So I made hooded towels, wash clothes and burp clothes.  I also made an apron for Chloe out of scraps I had and then we made play dough so she could use it :)  I know they're not the most professional looking pictures, but I felt pretty proud of myself!  And the naked picture of Avery is just to show that she's there...I did not make that bumbo out of a mold I created myself.

Avatar Day...

"To celebrate the day the Avatar was not boiled in oil!"  We LOVE the cartoon series Avatar the Last Airbender and I'm pretty sure that we've watched the whole series atleast 5 times.  We're to the point that we can tell you what the episode is about just by hearing the title (I know scary...it's like my Dad and Star Trek).  My sister Meghan (the one above) is the source of our obsession...we used to make fun of her for being so nerdy, but then we got sucked in too.  She's now got her boyfriend Brian started, so we all got together for her annual celebration of Avatar Day!  There's an episode called Avatar Day where a town is punishing him for something he did in a former life and he's to be boiled in oil (wow...now I sound extra nerdy), but he saves the town, so they celebrate the day he was not boiled in oil.  A few years ago Meg made cookie dough men (because the A.D day treat was unboiled dough), but since I'm a cookie-dough-aphob, she made cookies instead.  The fruit tea was for Uncle Iroh, a character who is always drinking or going off about tea.  Chloe loved the party too, since she is always trying to bend and is obsessed with the character Zuko (don't judge).  Happy Avatar Day!

Just Keep Swimming...

We were doing quite a bit of swimming at the beginning of summer, but things have settled down quite a bit for us since July started (in the swimming department anyway).  Chloe had a blast jumping into my arms from the side and has gotten quite gutsy with it.  She loves to have me scoot back and see how far she can jump.  She still freaks out if you try to teach her to swim.  Avery is a total water baby.  She's a kicker outside of the pool as it is, but she totally goes nuts in the water.  I usually hold her by the armpits and let her legs float out behind her to kick to her hearts content.  She likes the floaty too and usually slumps forward and tries to eat it.  I feel like right now, it's just TOO hot...like the heat could swallow you whole.  Once it cools off a little, I think we'll be back at it- especially since we'll be loosing the pool soon!

Big Girl...

Avery loves being a big girl like her sister Chloe.  These pictures are of her first time riding in the seat of the cart.  She was so pleased with herself and so excited to be sitting next to Chloe.  Avery's laid back personality is quickly becoming a miss independent, I can do it myself, look at me go personality!  She's still an easy going gal, but with an edge.  Ronnie and I have decided that she's a lot like her Daddy, in that she'll put up with a lot and then suddenly boil over in a squealing fit of rage (not that Ronnie squeals).  This is especially true around meal time.  I love my girlies so much.  I love that they love each other and are sweet to one another.

Happy 4th of July!

4th of July Eve...Liz and Lucie comforting Chloe through the fireworks

The crowd at the Shumway's house

Happy Fourth of July!

Waiting for Dad to show up at the park

Found our friends!

Avery LOVED the cotton candy...go figure.

This is Avery's sad face in between cotton candy bites

Going for a ride on the train

Mom shot!

Rimmasch cousins

Nana and Alec

Hangin' at the Sunbowl

Chloe being a groupie for the band

The band, South of Graceland

Waiting for the fireworks!

We had an awesome Fourth of July!  Ronnie had to work for a quite a bit of it, but it still rocked.  He left early to work on the sound for the fireworks (the radio station collaborated with the city for the fireworks) and met up with us later at the park for games and fun.  Luckily we found the Judd's at the park to keep us company and had a great time with them.  Love those guys!  We did face painting, snow cones, train rides, bounce houses and just hung out.  After that we headed to my parents house to have a bbq with the whole fam, minus AJ.  Mmmm...nothing like watermelon and my Mom's potato salad at a summer bbq!  Went shopping with my sil Cami and found some steals at Gap and Old Navy, then rushed off to the Sunbowl.  We got VIP seating and dinner there, since Ronnie works for the Canyon Media and about had our eardrums burst from sitting so close to the loud speakers!  Despite that, it was super fun and the band, South of Graceland, was amazing!  They were very talented and knew how to get the crowd going.  At first they only had little girls rushing the stage, but the high energy got around and they had a good size crowd by the end.  My favorite part was at the end when the lead singer brought our a soldier from each branch of the military and waved the American flag, reminding us all of the sacrifices to keep our freedom.  I cried then and I'm tearing up now as I write it.  I'm so grateful for all who protect our rights and way of life.  When they were done, we got to watch the best fireworks show I have ever seen (aside from Disneyland)!  It lasted twenty minutes long and had a narration and music timed to the fireworks (Ronnie was very proud, since he got to help with it).  Chloe absolutely....HATED it!  She screamed and cried into Ronnie's chest the entire show, and only came up for air when it was over.   She still talks about how much she hates fireworks and how much they scare her.  Avery on the other hand, ate it up.  She was all smiles and wide eyes as they blasted off.  Hahaha, love my silly girls!  We finally made it home around 11:30 and promptly crashed in our beds.  It was a great day with my sweet little family!