Sarah is TWO!

This little girl turned two on Friday. Here she is eating birthday pancakes.
Her birthday party was Saturday night. We had family over (even Nona and Poppy!) and had a ball.

Jake and Jack sucking down Mint Juleps.

Party people.

Miles and Ashlee.

Jack and Brent.

Michelle and kids.

Hawaiian Sweet Roll Sandwiches.

So. Freakin'. Good.

Hey, birthday girl!

It's a good thing I haven't bought anything new for Sarah to wear in a while... because she scored big time on her birthday!

"Pretty dress!" from DeeDee and PopPop.

Sarah loves her new purse from DeeDee and PopPop so much that she had to bring it to church with her on Sunday.

New bike (her first bike) from Nona and Poppy.

Sarah's present from Mom and Dad. (It's a hit.)

Trying on her new princess shoes.

Doug and Van.

Two candles for the birthday girl.

Family picture on the front porch.

Sarah with Nona and Poppy.

Kaiya wanted in on this photo opportunity also.

Benny was hilarious and having a great time playing in the balloons.

Oh, this boy is so sweet.

Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point

We, of course, jumped at the chance to go to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point a few weeks ago with our Carter cousins. I'm not sure exactly why I don't have a single picture of Jen or Van-- but I'm sure it has something to do with Jen's handiwork behind the camera for most of these shots. (Thanks, Jen!)
Anyway, we had a great day and loved our pony rides, our wagon ride, and all the Springtime baby animals... seriously, adorable.

Jake was a champ. He smiled the entire pony ride and I loved seeing him so proud.

Jack was not happy about his ride. He had his eye on  a different pony and another mom and kid snaked it from under him. Poor Jack.

Still... pretty great face there, Jack. Gotta love an angry kid sometimes.

See? Awesome.

Sarah was very serious on her ride. She loved every second of it too.

Markelle and Miles.

Sarah and me.

Seriously, thanks again Jen.

Jack and the rooster.

We were on a pretty tightly-packed wagon, but these boys still had fun.

Petting the adorable baby lamb that followed this employee around like it was their mother. It was so freakin' cute.

Wow. That's some cheeser on my girl.

A favorite quote from High Fidelity:

"Top five things I miss about Laura... 

 One: sense of humor. Very dry, but it can also be warm and forgiving. And she's got one of the best all time laughs in the history of all time laughs, she laughs with her entire body. Two: she's got character. Or at least she had character before the Ian nightmare. She's loyal and honest, and she doesn't even take it out on people when she's having a bad day. That's character." [holds up three fingers] " Three: [long pause, hesitantly] "I miss her smell. And the way she tastes. It's a mystery of human chemistry and I don't understand it... some people, as far as their senses are concerned... just feel like home." [shakes his head, recollecting, then looks back and lip syncs 'four' while holding up four fingers] "I really dig how she walks around. It's like she doesn't care how she looks or what she projects and it's not that she doesn't care it's just... she's not affected I guess. And that gives her grace. And five: she does this thing in bed when she can't get to sleep--she kinda half-moans and then rubs her feet together an equal number of times... it just kills me. Believe me, I mean, I could do a top-five-things-about-her-that-drive-me-crazy but it's just your garden variety women (you know) schizo stuff and that's the kind of thing that got me here."

Sarah Says:

Sarah is so sweet while putting her to bed. She says, "I uhvbe ooo" (I love you), and "doo[d] [g]irrw" ("good girl"), and "nigh, night"... The other night, as I was laying her down and taking her Cinderella doll out of her crib (she had a full entourage in there with her, already), the following conversation took place:

Sarah: (pointing to her Cinderella doll) Rella!
Me: You want to sleep with Rella?
Sarah Yes. (She totally says "yes" sometimes. Emphasis on the "s".)
Me: Okay, here she is, (tucking Rella in with a blanket next to Sarah).
Sarah: Rella, shoes?
Me: Rella doesn't need her shoes. She's going to sleep and already has on her covers.
Sarah: Otay. Nigh, night.

I listened for a while outside her door, and then with the monitor downstairs to hear Sarah talking to Rella...

Sarah: Oh, hi Rella! Hi!
Sarah: Shoes? Baempet? (Blanket) Rella, otay? Nigh, night.

Love this little girl.

Miles Kempton

A few of us gathered for Miles' first birthday on Saturday.
I'm looking at my four pictures and wishing I had taken more... maybe Lisa, Wade, and Cindy? Oh well...

These are some cute cousins.
And there's pretty Ashlee in the background.

And I'm dying over Miles' resemblance to his daddy, Jeff. Wow.
Jeff is my cousin and seriously... Miles looks just. like. him.

Hello, May.

April, you were good to us this year... We loved you in Florida and Utah was pretty great too. You brought us a little yard work, a new tree and shrubs, some fresh and pretty potted flowers and herbs, parent and kid-sized porch chairs, a little rain, and even a few really hot afternoons. We can't complain.

May, you are bringing us a lot of birthdays and family time. We are excited. We look forward to more nice weather for nice walks, and maybe even a little more planting in our front yard. As for the backyard, YIKES. I'm more than a little nervous about what May might do to us back there. Wish us luck. And, May... be gentle. We're new at this.