Someone Turned 1!

Can you guess who? Yep, Shayli.

Shayli insisted on butterflies this year. I had to comply. ;)

Actually, I just needed an excuse to try a recipe I had been eyeing on Pinterest for awhile....4 layer with strawberries, cream cheese and whipped cream.  Just to give you a taste.

I wish I could say the day was full of bliss and joy.....it wasn't.  Shayli was in rare form.

But we managed to push through the celebration!  I'm sure in a few years I'll just look at the pictures and forget all the crying and orneryness. 

She liked her cake!

At one year Shayli is:

taking steps but not ready to forsake her bear crawl
she says "mama" and "dada" and according to some accounts "Kyson". :)
she means business when she eats - she eats quite a bit!
she is not too picky when it comes to food (which is a huge relief! Kyson is still picky)
she thinks she can do anything she wants
wakes up 3-5 times a night (Wha-a-a-t?!? I'm sleep deprived and cranky on a consistent basis)
still nurses at night (but I refuse to do it as often as she wakes up)
goes up and down the stairs like a pro (has been for about 5 months)
realizes she can make a scream...and it echoes in church!
has a definite opinion
loves to crawl in my bed and cuddle for a few minutes in the morning
loves strawberries, watermelon, and grapes
climbs through our big play structure and slides down the slide (nobody has any business doing that until 3.  She doesn't listen to my opinion on the matter)
takes 2 good, solid naps
loves to start dancing anytime she hears music or someone singing
still has no teeth.

We love our little Shayli! Happy Birthday!

Raging Waters

The Girl Scouts had one last hurrah for the year at Raging Waters. 

We had a blast!  And it brought back lots of memories from my childhood.  We used to go with our cousins when we were in Utah for vacation and I loved it!

 Unfortunately, Kyson and Shayli were not 48". :(   We spent lots of time on the Lazy River and at Hooks Lagoon.  The other bummer was that half of the little kids area was under construction.  Boo!

But we found a nice shady area to camp out for the day.  Technically, Kendri was not tall enough either.  We were sneaky and got her on a few of the double tube rides.  The very last ride of the day I was with her and we were going on the Dragon ride.  She had been on it at least 6 times.  But the lifeguard had changed.  He told her she was too short.  I mentioned that she had been on several times already.  He sadly shook his head.  Then I begged and he finally relented. Hee hee! We got in one last scream! So fun.

Shayli didn't fall asleep until after 5 o'clock.  What?!  I thought for sure she would give me a break somewhere around 2.  She apparently did not want to miss out!  We had a great time and came home exhausted.  Next time though, I want all of my kids to be big enough to ride all of the rides.  It would have made it MUCH easier!  The day was definitely not for the faint of heart!

4th of July

We went and hung out at the Maxfield's (Ryan's sisters house) this year for the 4th of July.  Someone HAD to put their pool to use.  It might as well be us!


Cousins with matching 4th of July shirts.....wonder who did that??? ;)



Getting ready for the light show.

Sparklers!



Kyson was pooped by this time but managed to soldier on.....:)



Shayli actually enjoyed the excitement of the 4th of July shoot off.



And the big finale.......Happy Birthday USA!

Sand, Sand and More Sand

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 A few more pictures to finish off our beach vacation....matching swimsuits are a must!

Kendri with her cousin Rachel headed to the water

Lexi and Kendri really got into boogie-boarding this year.  They did a great job and caught some waves!

Lexi and her cousin Anna

Digging a pit

 Apparently the kids dug the huge pit you see above.  A wave came crashing into it and actually lifted Kendri up and tossed her around a bit!  I didn't get to see it, but it sounds like I missed out on quite the show!

Kyson snoozing

 Kyson wore himself out.  He came down with a bug while we were at the beach.  He crashed on the sand for 3 hours!

Building castles

 And you can't go to the beach without burying yourself!

And of course, what's a beach trip without a group picture of crying children?

There were moments of cooperation.....

The final product!  Unfortunately, Kyson's head is cut off in all of my group photos. I think someone somewhere may have a good one of everyone.  Maybe. ;)

Brr!  It was a wee bit chilly in the morning.  But overall, it was a successful trip!  Thanks, Newport!

Bathing Beauty

 Shayli loves the beach.  Like love-loves it.  So much that she would roll around in the sand until she was covered in it.  We're talking stuck to her scalp, in her diaper, up her nose.  And, yes, there was plenty in her ears too.

It's just so warm in this nice soft sand. :)

 Lexi and Kendri (and some of the other kids) found a colony of starfish.  I'm not sure who was the brave one, but someone made the first move of plucking off the starfish from the rocks.  After that, everyone had to have their own!  Here are Lexi and Kendri with "their" starfish. We watched them for awhile in a bucket of water and then let them go back home. :)

Good-bye!

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 It's always bitter-sweet to end a vacation....

but it has to come to an end sometime!

 And here's a little peak in our car on the ride home. If you think it looks squooshed, it is!

And our little Shayli had her moments when enough was enough!

Luckily, she had her sweet brother to help her through them! :) Thanks, Utah for a great trip!