And the birthdays continue...

Poor Mitch sort of gets overshadowed for his birthday. Myra's is 4 days before, and then Logan's is a few weeks later (but he starts talking about it during the Myra birthday prep!) so he sort of gets lost in the middle. This year was especially challenging since he began his fellowship last month and has had very little discretionary time. Working 14-16 hour days 6 days a week doesn't leave much time for hobbies, fun or even sleeping. He did manage to get off work in time for a birthday dinner. Even Steven and Sylvia came! Yay!
Gifts were a wee bit tricky this year. I try to shy away from work related gifts, but he doesn't have time really for anything else.

Logan loves to open presents. This one is a pair of pants, yet to be assembled. it's a new pattern, so I need to fine tune the fit, so inside the box were the pattern and a muslin.

I know, a flash drive - so romantic. He broke his old one and he doesn't have time to shop for himself.

A book from his parents. He's excited about reading this one!

When I asked Mitch what he wanted for his birthday, he responded with some frustration, "I just want to have some extra tine to roast marshmallows with my little boy!" Maybe if the roasting is in the back yard, we can squeeze in more of it.

3!!

I cannot believe that my little princess is already three! She had one heck of a celebration, with a giant Rapunzel cake and an even more giant pile of presents. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

The cake

Rapunzel!

The baby bed was too big to wrap, so we just brought it out, and she put baby down for a nap immediately.

Princesses from Oma and Pappy!

Jessie talks! Yee-haw!

Aurora!

Cupcakes to decorate from Grandma and Grandpa. She spent all evening feeding them to us and her dolls.

She loves books. Logan and Duncan got a kick out of this one, too.

No, Mom! You can't have my princess placemat!

In true princess style, she kisses the Handsome Prince(s)

Logan's favorites were the puzzles (natch.) and the Rapunzel figurines.

As soon as everything was unwrapped, Myra tucked in all the dolls.

She asked me to take a picture of Jessie.

Today, she and baby are wearing their matching Tiana dresses, and Myra is toting around an armful of new dolls.  All is well in her kingdom.

Millcreek Canyon and a stop at the Zoo.

Mitch was off this weekend, so although we have a ton of stuff to do around the house, we took a little time off of all the chores to enjoy some family time. Saturday evening we decided to hit the Zoo for a couple of hours. We got a membership when we first got here, and the kids LOVE it. Since we go all the time, I don't usually take pictures, but Myra made a new friend...

I don't know his name, but Myra insists that he is a Prairie Cat. That kid is cute.

Sunday after church we decided to check out one of the local hiking hotspots, Millcreek Canyon. We packed up a big picnic and headed out there. Logan was so excited to go climb a mountain!

They were both so excited to get there and see all the trees and streams! I also must deny responsibility for Myra's outfit. Midriff baring and leopard print - I see trouble in the teen years ahead.

We climbed some trees and threw rocks in every stream we passed.

There were waterfalls everywhere, and the kids had to stop at every one.

Myra wasn't sure she wanted to get any closer though. They spit!

Duncan had fun too. And how cute are those boys in their matching hats?! Of course, the plan was for Duncan to ride and Logan and Myra to walk...

Myra had other plans. It was really fun, and so beautiful! We all had a blast.

And after all that hiking, we're pooped!

Gymnastics!

Logan has been having all the fun in gymnastics for the last 2 years, and now  it's Myra's turn!!

Once we found a gym here in SLC that we liked, we registered them both. Myra was so excited!! The came the first day of class. Logan was in his element, but Myra had a little trouble getting adjusted.

But after 4 weeks, she is participating for the entire 45  minute class with only minimal mommy intervention. The biggest breakthrough was last week we she actually got into the pit!!

Doesn't that look fun?! It's the same concept as a ball pit, but filled with big foam blocks. The more advanced gymnasts do all sort of cool tricks off the trampoline or bars and into them. Myra was afraid to go near it, but I sat Duncan in there last week and she hopped in, too. Now it's hard to get her out...

It's a good thing we have gymnastics to distract them. If they had their way, this is what my little couch potatoes would do all day long.

On the move...

While once content to sit hang out sweetly on the floor and smile, 

How sweet is that little face??

Duncan has discovered the power of movement! At the moment, he's just rolling wherever he wants to go,

Here I go!

but it won't be long before he's chasing Logan and Myra!

Pushup or Yoga plank?

Crawling will commence soon... I'm' not sure we're ready.

Brothers

Logan and Duncan are the best of friends. Logan is so sweet with him, which is amazing as he is constantly abusing Myra. He loves to make Duncan laugh.

He also is really good about sharing toys and books with him.

Logan actually brought this one over just to read to Duncan. They share a deep love of Thomas the Train.

Summer Reading

I finally got the books unpacked. It took a while. We have a lot of books. Myra has enjoyed rediscovering her old favorites.

And she's found some new ones to love. The Red Badge of Courage piqued her interest today.

Here is a clip of her reading it to baby. The end is my favorite part...

After she finished reading it, she shared it with baby.

And this has nothing to do with anything, but holy cow, that baby is cute!! And cross-eyed. But still cute. He loves Tigger.