Counting

Lily is getting so big. It's hard to believe that she was once a little tiny baby. She learns so much everyday. Recently she has learned how to count to ten. Here's a movie of her counting.

Enchanted Rock and Fredericksburg

Michael and I decided that this year for Labor day we would go on a trip instead of just relaxing at home. It was so much fun. We were only gone for a day but it was nice getting out of the house and seeing more of Texas. On Monday morning we woke up, packed up the car and headed to enchanted rock.

Enchanted Rock is a big rock that sticks out of the ground. It's pretty cool looking. Anyways it's about a half a mile up to the top. So it's not very long but it is really steep. Plus you're hiking up a rock so there's really not a trail and there nothing to hold onto. The weather was perfect for the hike. It was warm but there was a breeze that kept you cooled off. Lily had a blast. She insisted on hiking the entire way up by herself! Occasionally she would hold Michael's hand but for the most part she just walked by herself. She is such a determined little girl. On the really hard parts she would repeat to herself over and over again "do it, do it, do it" It was really cute.

Once we got to the top we rested and enjoyed the view. It was a really beautiful view. We carried Lily most of the way down because it was so steep and we didn't want her to fall.

After our hike we decided to go tour Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg is a German town in the middle of Texas. We had lunch there, we are disappointed to admit that we ate at a BBQ place instead of a German restaurant, I don't know what we were thinking. After lunch we went to the pioneer museum. It was really neat and Lily loved running in and out of all the pioneer homes. We had to keep an eye on her because she kept wanting to touch and play with all the old artifacts. It was amazing looking at the pioneer homes. They were so small and simple. Houses today are so huge! Why do we need so much space now? After the pioneer museum we visited the replica of the oldest church in town. The original was torn down because they started having cattle drives down main street and the cows were running into the church. I thought that was pretty funny and very Texan. Anyways they built the replica in the 1930's so it's pretty old too. After that we decided to go home because we were all really tired. It was such a nice trip though and I'm really grateful that we were able to go.

The Big Blue Ball

A big blue ball has decided to take up residence in our backyard. A few weeks ago Lily and I found the ball in our backyard. I have no idea where it came from. Lily was super excited to find it there and immediately started playing with it. I let her play with it for awhile because I didn't have the heart to take it away from her and I figured no one would mind if she played with it. However, later in the day when Lily was taking a nap I went outside and threw the ball into the neighbors yard. The next day the ball was back in our yard. So I decided to throw into another neighbors backyard. The next day the ball was in our yard again. Then I decided to ask another neighbor if it was his ball. He said no and that he didn't know who it belonged to. I tried again to throw it into the other neighbors yards but the ball always ends up back in our yard. So I guess we get to keep it now which makes Lily very happy.

Utah Trip Part 1

Michael and I had a great time in Utah. I went out a week before Michael and spent time with my family. It was a ton of fun but all my pictures are on the camera and I get figure out how to get them from my camera to the computer. So I'll post about the first week later.

Michael arrived on July 1...just in time to celebrate Independence day! The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. I love the parade, fireworks etc. Anyways, Michael decided to run the 5k this year. It was his first time ever racing a 5k. He did awesome. Lily participated in the fun run. She came in 3rd for her age group and my sister Mary ran the 10k, she won her age group. (I will post pictures of this joyous event later). After the races we went and watched the parade. I have to admit I was a little disappointed. They didn't have as many horses this year.:-( Oh well it was still fun. We ended the day by going to the fair and then watching a few fireworks at my sisters house. Lily was terrified of the fireworks.

On July 9th we went up to Herriman to spend time with Michael's family and to celebrate Jon's birthday. It was a lot of fun. We took family pictures and then went swimming at the rec center. The pool there was so cool. Michael and I had a blast jumping off the high dive and going down the water slide. Lily enjoyed playing in the kiddy pool with her cousins.

Here are some pictures from our trip. I will post more about the first week and my birthday when I get the camera thing figured out.:-)

Here are some pictures from out trip

Our Family Vacation

Hey Everyone,

So this past weekend Michael and I went on a vacation down to Corpus Christi with our friends Ashley and Spencer Rex, and Ashley's sister Christi and her family. It was so much fun! First of all the 3 men went wind surfing. Michael really enjoyed it and wants to go again. While the men were wind surfing Ashley, Christi and I worked on our tans and watched all the kiddos. Lily loved the water. I couldn't keep her out of it. Which was somewhat scary because there were a lot of jellyfish in the water. Luckily Lily did not get stung by any jellyfish. Lily also loved playing with Christi's 3 children. She followed Caylie, who is about 9, around almost the entire trip. It was really funny.

Anyways after wind surfing we went to the beach condo that we had rented for the weekend. We got settled in and then went for a swim in the pool. It was nice to cool off from the hot sun.

The next day we went and played on the beach. We had a sand building competition...I think everyone won first place. Michael and I decided to base our sand castle off the Salt Lake temple. However, once finished I don't think our sand castle looked anything like the Salt Lake temple. After we finished our sand castle we let Lily destroy it, something she had been trying to do the entire we were building it. Lily also enjoyed chasing the seagulls around. She loves birds. She also calls them bees instead of birds. So hopefully someday soon she will learn to call them by the correct name.

We tried playing in the ocean with Lily while we were at the beach but it was a no go. Lily was terrified of the waves and would run away every time we put her down. She did enjoy playing in the seaweed.

After playing at the beach everyone went swimming again except for Lily and me. We stayed at the condo so that Lily could take a nap.

After we ate dinner and put the kids to sleep Ashley's friend Cramer and her husband came over and we all played a game called bang. It was really fun and a nice way to end our vacation.

On Sunday we all headed home. Michael and I had a great time and really want to go back again next year.

Our life in Texas

Hello Family and Friends,

Sorry it's been so long since my last post! We are doing great and loving Austin! Here are some highlights from the past few months...

Black's BBQ...about a week or two ago Michael and I went down to Lockhart with our friends to try some delicious Texas BBQ. Lockhart is the BBQ capitol of Texas, at least that's what I have been told, anyways we decided to eat at Black's BBQ. It was so DELICIOUS! The meat was so tender and full of flavor. They also had a ton of sides to choose from. It was awesome. We are definitely going to go back soon.

Michael won a competition at work this past week. He had to email in an idea for a project using an arduino, and he won. So he is going to be working on that project now. We will post pictures when he finishes it.

I have been working on different crafts lately. I have sewn a skirt, blanket and burp clothe so far. I have also crocheted a few hats and an afghan. It's been a lot of fun. I am also learning how French braid my hair. I know this is something that I should learned long ago but I never got around to it.

Lily is doing great. Her vocabulary is increasing all the time. My favorite is when she says "eye" and then points to her ear. I keep trying to teach her that her ear is her ear and her eye is her eye. However, she insists on calling her ear her eye. Oh well. Hopefully she will figure it out someday. She has also learned how to climb up and down stairs! Yay.

Lily and I have also loved going to the park lately. The weather here is so awesome. Anyways, Lily loves playing at the park. She loves sliding down the slides. She still hasn't figured out that she needs to sit before she goes down the slide but we're working on that. I think she'll get it soon.

Well that's all for now. I will post pictures later.

Bye.