So my daddy
(the girl's grampy...he got this name because this is what I called his dad and asked him when I was pregnant with Adey if he would go by the same name for my kids and he honored me and did...very special meaning to me as my grampy was extremely special to me and he passed away when I was in 9th grade while in Louisiana at a band performance) surprised us and came to visit before he heads back to another semester of college in August. We had a good time full of laughs, some cries (we had a daddy/daughter night reminiscing old times after the girls went to bed), travels, sight seeing, snuggles, picture taking...but above all
MAKING MEMORIES.
my brother aka "uncle Jay" had sent a gift for the girls...more duplos which we love. In this picture Adey was trying to read the directions to Grampy as he built them
Grampy's funny face
Movie night snuggles with his grand daughters...melts my heart how much these two little girls just adore this amazing man who we are blessed to call "daddy" and/or "Grampy". such a family man...
the next 'tons' of pictures are from a camping trip we went on to Antelope Island. It was so nice to get away from the world of electronics (especially because we had no service) and leave the things on my mind at home and just focus on what the meaning of family was (changed quite a bit of my though process and I felt refreshed when we returned home). As well I would say this was quite an experience of one we will never, NEVER forget...huh dad. Plus it was Paisleys first camping trip, Adey's first time to see a buffalo up close, and for all 4 us our first time to put our feet in the Great Salt Lake (surprisingly we have lived her for 3 years and haven't once made it up here which was less then an hour away...can't wait to take my mom up here even for just a day trip during one of her visits out this way to the here desert). Adey helped Grampy put the tent up, went for a few walks, had a yummy foiled dinner that we ended up dumping and cooking over the stove, had a water gun fight, saw buffalo and antelope and a snake (yes I freaked out which I think freaked Adey out a little...they are NOT my friends by any means...) and a lizard and many of the Utah state bird...can you guess?! (Seagulls), had wonderful neighbors who howled for coyotes into the wee hours of the night (don't worry we turned them in especially since this camp site has quiet hours...sure hope they got in some kind of trouble because Dad and I did want some sleep that night), experienced the wonderful porta potty...Adey kept saying every time she had to go tot he bathroom we would walk in there and sanitize the seat and she she would then say "this is really gross" and wouldn't actually sit on the seat (guess I raised some what of a girly girl), played in the sand, ate apple fritters for a quick early breakfast, kicked the soccer ball around, walked across the salty foot-hurting sand to put our feet in the salt lake water (we chose to not go swimming), survived the wonderful smell and the thousands beyond millions of gnats, took tons of pictures, and to end had a yummy breakfast at Cracker Barrel before heading the less then 1 hour drive home which we all just wanted to shower and sleep. I was amazed at how soft our feet became from walking across the salt (explains why people use salt scrub and it actually works....time for me to invest in some)
she did such a great job pushing the polls together
helping Grampy stand up the tent
she wasn't too sure what this stuff was she was crawling around on (Paisley learned to crawl about a week before this trip and since then she just wants to go every where she can)
I think Adey shot Grampy straight in the eye...great aim...thats my girl
I just love their expressions in this picture
Apparently Adey thought Paisley needed in on the action too...she didn't cry so maybe it was fun to her
Adey would try to give a sneaky hug and then shoot the water at Grampy but he caught on and this water fight was just full of laughter...we all got wet and had fun which is what camping is all about away from the world we live in where way too many people forget this lesson...thanks Dad for helping remind me of it
they were drawing pictures together...Nonni would have been so proud
time out for a snack
If you get in this girls bubble...she has learned to pinch and grab hair and bite...I am working so hard to correct this behavior but with a crazy sister like Adey...well she has to defend herself
killing the gnats in our tent
blowing scented bubbles...my girls LOVE bubbles (under statement)
Adey slept btwn. me and Grampy and she slept great...she was tired the next day but didn't wake up once during the middle of the night. Paisley on the other hand...this picture is of her fast asleep in her bed during her first camping trip...didn't sleep the greatest and ended up half way through the night just snuggling with me but the ole saying 'they are only little for so long' and I gotta soak up every minute of it. With Adey I have learned how they really do grow up fast and each year I see Adey develop a talent and succeed or learn something new and get so excited or whatever it may be my heart rejoices and swells and most of the time I shed a tear and thank Heavenly Father for everyone of my blessings the memories I have with her and her sister...my girls are my world, my everything. I know they were given to me for a reason and I reminded every day just how LUCKY I am that I am their Momma.
beautiful sunrise (my dad took this one)
the 'lil' fella's were roaming around freely...I spotted most of them and pointed them out to dad...sometimes we thought they were just rocks but got kind of close to this guy (but we were in the car)
they were having a tongue sticking out contest...it was cute!
our little snake (non) friend...I HATE SNAKES by the way and Adey wasn't too much of a fan of them
Grampy and with his grand daughters on a hike at Antelope Island (the water in the back round is the Great Salt Lake)
this is my whole world...you can definitely see how much they look like me
she is such a special little girl and beyond grateful she is a part of our family
sisterly love...pure
such a sensory kid...loves sand, rocks, dirt, shave cream, water, play dough, etc...
i just thought this was a cute picture...love her facial expression
my best friend...so lucky to call him my hero...my daddy
posing
practicing her gymnastics moves
these flowers were everywhere!
i wouldn't mind editing and framing this pictue
that long road was how we got to the island...the smell was horrible on the way in
we walked across that and put our feet in the water
Paisley wanted to walk everywhere...hopefully one day soon she will learn how to do this on her very own
it was such a nice, easy, beautiful hike
she just adores her grampy...she says he is the best grandpa and her best friend
playing in the sand but way too soft to make anything
once again into sensory
she loves soccer and keeps asking if she can play. is 4 yr old honestly a waste of money to pay for soccer? should I wait a year or too?
they had so much fun playing
'Grampy and his girls July 2013'
we tried to do our footprints too
that is pure salt
there were gnats everywhere...but as you walked through them they scurried and left you alone
the water wasn't bad at all nor did it smell...but sure did wonders for our feet
he can now check this off his bucket list
she loved playing with the 'mud'...wanted to take it home
it was hurting her feet walking across the hard salty sand...grampys are the best for piggy back rides
we took this picture for my mom
she fell asleep shortly after we got home...we were all so tired!
grampy snuggles
grampy bought us a wii and Adey made him do the dance game
he got on to me for taking his picture...i kept telling him its all about the memories!
the next set of pictures we went to the Tracy Aviary over by Liberty Park. It was actually pretty cool and want to take my mom when she comes next and probably my dad again. The girls loved the spraying fans everywhere to cool off even though there was tons of shade! We also fed the ducks and saw tons of birds...my personal favorite was the owl (except not seeing the cut in half rabbit for dinner...that was gross)
Paisley was fascinated with all the ducks
this picture turned out cool dad!
and so did this one...next time we will have to bring both lens sizes
once again wanting to walk everywhere
the toucan
pointing out all the birds
everywhere there is a grass area that means Miss Adey has to practice her cart wheels...which are getting pretty good if you ask me
my two little birds
cooling off with the fans
Mr. Owl
playing in the water
she would get mad when Adey would turn it and the water would stop coming her way
Adey had fun turning the water thing
it was a nice refresher
stopped for a snack in the shade while watching and feeding more ducks before we headed home
with glasses
i think this one turned out cute
this bird I thought was pretty
