**Glitter**

Charley got her first set of "glitter toes!"

I have wanted to let her get them done for a while,

but for one reason or the other it just never happened.

 

The other night we both got to get our toes done,  it was so fun to watch her.

She just felt so pampered and special.

She was a good little client and held very still.

She was really good about putting her toes under the light to cure.

P.S. How cute are those chubby little theighs?

I really wish this pic wasn't so bright.  But what do you do?

Char loves her pretty toes!

She was so proud to come home and show them off to Cory and Cash.  

The next morning when I went to get her out of her crib she had one foot up on the rail and said

"Mom!  Look!  Ah cute!"

I got a little taste of why it's so fun to have a daughter. 

I can't wait to share more of these moments with her as she grows up. 

(Just don't grow up too fast, OK.)

First Day of Fun Shine Preschool

Cash started his 2nd, and last year of preschool this week.  He was so exited, and ready to start!  We got to meet his teachers the week before.   His teacher this year is Ms. Sariah.  Cash really likes her, and his new classroom.

We had to do the standart "first day of school pics,"

  but Cash insisted on doing the little photo shoot on his bike. 

The kid has LIVED on his bike this summer! 

Love this little face!

Picture infront of his classroom.

Guess there was just too much going on the look at the camera:)

We started a little tradition last year, to bake him a GIANT cookie for his 1st day of school.

We followed tradition this year, but changed it up a bit.

It turned out really good!

This kid had soooo many funny faces!

It was fun to get to share his after school treat!

I'm so glad that he is a kid who loves to go to school.  He is very social, and very smart.

I asked him how school was that day and he said

"it was the bestest school day ever!"

**Shorty**

I have been debating about posting these pictures, and telling this story because It's a sad one.  I figure I use this blog as our family journal, and since she was a part of our family, she deserveses a post.

A few weeks ago while the kids and I were in Vegas visiting Carson.  Cory called and told me that Shorty was blind.  I was thinking "well, she wasn't blind yesterday."  Well we came home and I saw with my own eyes that yes, indeed she was blind.  It was so sad to see her stumbling out of her kennel, and running into everything.  She knew who we were, and she didn't look like she was in any kind of pain so we just watched her for a week or so while we were deciding what to do.   Well over the week we watched he drop weight like crazy.  She has always been a really good eater, so it worried us.  In our hearts we knew that something was wrong.  In the next few days she stopped and eating and drinking.   Then, right before we made the decision to put her down Cory felt a lump in her throat that wasn't there before.  The next day the lump had grown almost to the size of a softball:(  It was such a hard decision to make, but we know it was the right thing to do.  I feel like the last few days of her life she was suffering.  We loved Shorty so much, and she was such a good dog.  She loved Cash and Charley and was such a good protector for them.  With her in the backyard there was always a sense of security.  She will definitely be missed.   

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yep, I turned the big 2-8 this year!

I have to say that since I have had my kids, my own birthday has not been that big a deal.

This year however was an exeption.

The kids and I started out the day sleeping in till 9:30!

Can you believe that?

Love them.

Then we hung out, and Cory surprised us and came home for lunch.

Nap time...

Then for the evening Grandma Sue came to babysit (Thanks again!)

and Cory and I went out with these lovely ladies, and their lovely dates,

to the Do Do for dinner.

Really yummy.

So this is what you get when you hand 5 different guys and camera.

No one is looking at the camera!

Guess that's what you get:)

Can I just say how muck I adore these ladies!

I really am such a lucky girl to have such great friends, who mean so much to me:)

We finished up the evening with a little Katy Perry!

So concert was so good!

We were entertained the whole time,

She put on a great show with dancers, and props,

and I think she had upwards of at least 30 wardrobe changes.

Cory was such a good sport, and made my birthday so great!

I know he all ready said this, but it's going to be a hard one to top:) Ha, ha, ha

Hot diggity dog! Look who's 2!

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl Charley!

She turned 2 on June 29th, 2011.

This year I planned a

                                               "Hot Diggity Dog, Minnie Mouse Party"

I tried to make it "low key," but  ya know that never happends.

For dinner we had, (you guessed it)

Hot Diggity Dogs!!!

For dessert we had Minnie Mouse sugar cookies, Minnie fruit tarts, and red velvet cake balls:)

We invited all of her friends and family, and got such a good turn out.

Too bad that the weather didn't agree with our party plans.

I had all the decorations, and food set up out side.

It looked really cute for about 2 seconds! 

Then the rain came down and then the thunder and lightning followed:(

We quickly brought everthing inside, and everyone got nice and cozy.

The kids didn't care, they still had fun jumping on the trampoline, (char's b-day presant)

and playing on the blow-up waterslide. (thanks again Sunny)

 

This cake was A-Maz-InG!

and it tasted just as good as it looked.

I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't.

I learned early on that cake decorating is not a talent of mine:)

The rain blew over quickly, and the party went on!

Charley on Grandpa's shoulders.

Like always she got very spoiled. 

She got everything a 2 year old girl could ever want or need.

Including these two little darlings from the Fox crew.

Yep, not 1, but 2 baby pigs!

She was so excited when she opened up her gift and saw them!

I just kept thinking...

What in the world am I going to do with 2 baby pigs!

She wasn't afraid of them at all!

She hopped right in!

Now there were 3 little pigs:)

Thankfully this gift was just on borrow, and had a return policy.

She loved playing with them, and at one point she had them in her little shopping cart pushing it around.

They made a very memorable birthday gift:)

Charley had such a great birthday!  I wish I could just keep her two forever! 

She is growing up so fast!  We love everything about her, and her cute little personality!



Car-ni-val

Since the week of Strawberry Days was so busy for us,

we didn't really have time to hit the carnival untill after the parade on Saturday.

We thought it was going to be really busy,

but it wasn't too bad.

Katie and Nixon came with us,

Which was great because Cash needed a buddy for all the "big boy rides."

Of course Charley wanted to ride the carousel.

Don't know why.   But she loves them.

The "Big Yellow Super Slide" is always one of our favs!

Cash and Nix on the "spaceship ride"

All three of the kiddos and the "jeep ride"

Charley loves when she gets to go too.

I wish I got a better picture of these two.

This ride looked way to scary for them,

But they loved it!

Until next year.....

Everyone loves a parade!

The Strawberry Days Parade is always such a big hit.

My kids looooove it!

I can't believe I almost missed it for work!

Thanks to some very understanding clients, who made their schedules flexible for me:)

Popcorn while we were waiting for the parade to start.

I'm pretty sure this is the only time the whole parade that ANY of them sat down.

The parade was really good, and REALLY long this year.

But the kids had such a good time.

Charley showing off her ink.

Charley and "Jagger boyfriend" 

Every time these two see each other we make them give each other loves.

(The pics are for the future wedding video.)

Button' Mustin'

Anyone who reads this blog knows that we love us some Strawberry Days! 

There is just so much fun to be had!

This year did not disappoint, we were busy, busy, busy.

But we made it work:)

We got to the rodeo extra early this year to make sure we had prime "Mutton Bustin"  views.

Some of the "Mutton Busters"

Above: Cash, Warren and Haus Jones.

Below:  Cash, and "Black" Cole

Uh: AKA, Fiffel Mouskawitz?

                                               

Cash REALLY wanted to mutton bust last year, but I didn't let him.  I just thought he was too little:( Oh, and he reminded me quite often that "next rodeo he gets to ride the sheep"

He looked so good, and was so ready for his big ride. 



He got on the sheep and rode his little heart out.  He held on really tight, but his sheep gave him a little buck, and that was all she wrote.

There were so many people in the crowds cheering for him. 

It didn't take very long for this cowboy to dust himself off, and put his happy face back on.  The good news is, he wants to do it again! (next year)  The rest of the rodeo was great, the bull riding didn't disappoint.  Then, they topped it off with a fireworks show!  We can't wait to do it all again!