Manito Gardens

We went to a place called Manito Park. It is a series of gardens and parks that are absolutely gorgeous! I could have spent hours there! Emma loved that she could run on her own and explore or hold Caden's hand as we walked through the gardens! She fell several times but managed to come away injury free!

Is that a Jon face or what?!

Emma was bustin' a move in this picture!

These were all taken inside the building at the gardens! It smelled so beautiful and there were some really neat flowers and plants! I loved the white leaves that are in the picture with Derrick!

These are in the Rose gardens and the Japanese gardens! Emma liked looking at the big fish in the pond!

Lions and Tigers and Bears...

The last day we were in Spokane we went to a park called Cat Tails. And they had lions and tigers and bears!! Emma liked the lion the best, but we couldn't get a picture of him! She thought it was pretty cool to see the animals although she looked a little nervous around that white tiger! We had a wonderful trip and thank you to Debi and Curt for allowing us to come! Emma misses her cousins already!

Practicing Her Moves...

As many of you know, I have signed Emma up for dance classes this fall! We bought her shoes and a leotard the other day and she wanted to try them out! We kept trying to tell her to keep her tongue in her mouth...I guess we still have to work on that!! She is taking a summer camp that is a week long in July. It is a fairytale theme and they dress up like princesses everyday and do a craft and learn a dance! I thought it would be a good way to introduce her to the studio before actual classes start! She asks everyday to go to dance class! I hope she loves it as much as I think she will!

1st Swim of the Summer!!

Well, after a month of begging, Emma finally got to go swimming! Jeni and Kayle were in town and invited us over to Kayle's parents house to swim! The pool was really nice and the kids had fun! Emma liked to go in the "cave" and through the waterfall (it was turned off in the pictures!). She went down the slide once with Aunt Crystal, but didn't like that too much! Derrick just floated around in his tube for a while! He almost fell asleep in it! Emma started to get the hang of swimming by herself (with the help of floaties) just as we had to get out! But, I'm sure we will go over to Jami and Crystal's for more swimming soon!

A Weekend in Young!

We had a nice relaxing weekend in Young for the holiday! Jon and Emma rested in the hammock and the kids got spoiled by grandma and grandpa! Emma "helped" grandma clean off the frosting spoon...twice!! And then "helped" clean off the ice cream spatula! And with all the things Derrick won't eat...at least we know he likes chocolate cookies! Emma got to help grandpa milk the goats and feed the chickens! She liked the baby chickens! She was scared of the ducks and the goats, but grandpa made her get over that!! We had a really fun weekend and Emma is already asking to go back! Derrick is getting brave when it comes to walking! He is going further and further each time he tries! It won't be long! And Emma is getting better with the potty training! YEAH!!! I can't wait for that to be over with! We are doing good and thanks goes up to Young for a great weekend!

Update!

Just a little update! We are doing good! Derrick is finally learning to walk! It won't be long before he is on his own cruisin around the house! It's funny to watch him because he gets so excited and tries to run! He made it almost all the was down the hall the other day, and he was just laughing the whole time he was walking! He still only has 5 teeth in front, but I am thankful he has that...I thought they would never come! Hopefully when he gets some back teeth he will be more willing to try different foods! Right now it's pb&j and chicken dino's...and baby food still! The kids love playing together, especially ball and blocks! Emma is doing good and makes me laugh everyday! We are still working on the potty training thing! I was cracking up yesterday when she was yelling at her "stinkys" to come out! "Stinkys, where are you? COME OUT!" She is getting better though! Hopefully soon she will be done! I'm going to enroll Emma in a dance class that starts at the end of July! I'm exctied! I think she will love it! I will definately post pictures when the time comes! I'm staying busy with clients and get new referrals every week! I'm also trying to get stuff ready to go to Girls Camp in a month! I can't wait until that is over! Jon has a busy week with the VP in town, but relief will come this weekend when we go up to Young! We are looking forward to it!

Crazy AZ Weather!!!

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago when a storm was coming in! It is a HUGE dust devil that came out of the desert behind our community! It was very erie looking!

Tea Party!

These are from about a month ago when Mila and Andrea went out to lunch with us and then came over to play! Emma and Mila played tea party and had so much fun together! It brought tears to my eyes to watch them play together! You can tell they love each other! We went to visit Mila last night and Emma stayed in Mila's room almost the whole time we were there! She just sat up on her bed with her and they watched shows and they shared treats! Aunt Annie painted Emma's toes to match Mila's...pink polk-a-dots! Emma had 2 bows in her hair and Mila wanted one so she could match Emma! They are cute girls and I am thankful for the time they have to spend together! Just a funny thing that Emma said yesterday...we were driving and I said, "Emma, look at those orange trees." And she said very matter-of-factly, "No, mom those are green trees!" I love the logic of a 2 year old! So, we then proceded to point out to her that there were oranges growing on the trees! She makes me laugh everyday!