Tutus and Goggles

Grace found this cute tutu in Marley's closet.  It was one Marley wore when she was really little and I had Marley's pictures taken in it.  Grace added a little more to the outfit...some swim goggle and a back pack!

Sleeping in Church

Since the offer we put on the house we want was accepted, we decided to go to the ward that our home will be in.  It was a mission farewell (which made it easy for us to blend in) so we had to sit in the back.  Kevin looked at the program and realized that the name on the offer papers was the same name of the bishop of this ward!  I guess we were buying the bishop's house!  The missionary going on a mission gave kind of a wacko talk and I wasn't sure he even wanted to serve a mission!  Kevin said he knew that kid wasn't going to go (and later we found out he didn't even go to the MTC).  I don't know why people do that, if you don't want to go, just don't.  Why all the fan-fare?  Apparently, this kid's pre-mission talk made Marley sleepy!! I have never seen her fall asleep in church like this! How cute!!

Mini-Pioneers

For our stake's primary, they put on a Pioneer Day parade from Fortuna Park to the stake center.  I had to ask Grandma Ruth for a bonnet because even with all of our crazy amounts of dress-ups, that is something that I don't have!  We walked with the kids, but Kevin and I got so involved with talking to Lauren and Shane Starr (who we absolutely love!) that we lost track of Marley and their daughter Lydia (who Marley loves as well).  They were walking well behind us and most everyone else had already gotten to the church already!  As you can see, Marley is happy to be a pretend pioneer!  I think she thought it was too hot and too long of a walk!!

It's Diamond Time

Kevin got us fabulous seats to the Neil Diamond concert at the Rio Tinto Stadium.  We had seen him before in an indoor venue when we lived in Phoenix, AZ.  The crowd is an insane mixture of really young people (I saw kids there), elderly people (I saw an elderly woman in a wheel chair wearing oxygen) and every age in between!  We had a wonderful time and I'm so glad Kevin got us tickets!

Hogle Zoo with the Parkins

We went to the zoo with Holly Parking and her two ADORABLE children Hendrix and Aiya.  Marley and Hendrix get along SO well and Grace is always talking about Aiya.

 Hendrix, Marley, me, and Grace

 Marley and Aiya

 Holly snapped one of, what I think, is the best picture of Grace!  I LOVE this picture of her!!

They are all so adorable!!

Four-wheelin'

Since we are in the process of moving, I have been going through all of our stuff (which amazes me how much stuff we actually have...it's pretty ridiculous!!)  I found lots of things that I hadn't used or had barely used.  I asked my good friend Kellie if she wanted any of it and so she came to relieve me of it.  She brought her adorable little nephew and he and Marley had so much fun driving the Jeep around the front yard.  They look so cute!

Random Grace Picture

Grace went with my brothers,  Seth and Jono, and Kevin to drop a bunch of stuff off at Jerry's horse property that we are storing during the move until we are able to move into our new house.  Kevin and Seth said they always have fun with Grace because she is so fun-loving.  I'm glad she got to go with them by herself so she can be the center of attention.  I worry sometimes with her being the soon-to-be middle child that she may feel lost in the fray and I really don't want that!

Diaper Cover

Here is one of my kids, again, sans most of her clothes.  Grace did, however, manage to keep her diaper cover on!!

Ashley's Touch

Our friend Ashley, who is also a talented interior designer, helped us out in revamping our home decor.  She completed this awhile back, but I wanted to post some pictures of some of the MANY awesome things she had done to help pull our house together. I just wish I had before pictures for comparison!

It's Helmet Time

We bought this snowboarding/bike helmet for Marley and Grace LOVES to put it on as well.  After she put on the helmet, she decided to put on only one of Marley's shoes and attempt to ride the scooter around with her little purse! She's such a goofy kid!!

Cherry Teeth

When Marley eats cherries, this is what happens:

Her teeth are covered in red cherry juice!!

Vampire Teeth...Arrrrgh!

I love when Grace and Marley put in the vampire teeth and make these growling noises like they are some sort of monster.  I think it's so hilarious!  Grace looks so funny when she puts them in!

Doggy Bed

I hadn't seen Grace for a little while and went hunting for her.  Oscar has this little doggy bed he sleeps in that we keep in a corner by the TV armoire.  Well, that is where I found Grace! She was snuggling in her blanket petting and talking to Oscar! It was so darn cute!!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in July

I hate when I think I put all of the Christmas decorations/items away (or any holiday decor for that matter) and then one shows up randomly.  Marley some how found this light-up reindeer nose and was wearing it around the house.  Our house has such little storage space that holiday items, like Christmas decorations, are put away in places that aren't necessarily easy to access.  So it makes me sigh every time something like this comes up because I don't want to have to put it away!  But at least Marley entertained me with it, so that's a plus!

Cooke Family Band

Marley went to a week long summer camp that had a "rock star" theme with her friend Lydia Starr.  Every day they did a different activity that related to being a rock star.  One day she made this really cute guitar.  She wanted to "play" her guitar and got everyone to play these toy instruments that Grandma Ruth had.  Papa Jerry on the maracas, Kevin on the drums, and Grace on the tambourine.