I woke up this morning

bright and early to the greatest sound...

my kids giggling in the next room!

What a great way to start out the day

Summer Visitors....

Since it's so dang HOT here in the summer, we dont get summer visitors often. Which made us even more excited when Paul's Parents came for a visit for my nieces baptism.

This is my niece, Audrey!

Doesn't she look adorable all dressed in her baptism dress?

Paul and his Dad
Resemblance, much??
the Cannon Girls

Last night we hit the pool and then Monkey Business for some pizza before Grandma & Grandpa had to leave :(

This is my nephew...isn't he adorable?

He was double fisting the food and couldnt get enough...he didnt seem to mind the gagging as long as there was food in his mouth. Such a cute little kid.

We loved having Grandma & Grandpa come for a visit...come back soon!

Swimmer Divers

I guess when it's BURNING HOT outside, you have to get creative!

This is what my kids came up with today, all on their own...

Swimmer Divers

as they call it

My Dad

Okay, so my mom just posted about my Dad on her blog. Click here to read it, if you'd like:

gregmarianne.blogspot.com

Anyways, it got me to thinkin' about my old man.

Let me just give you a glimpse of the man that I call "Dad".....

He's "MacGuyver" (read my mom's post to get a better idea), seriously the man can fix ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING...cars, computers, toys, home repairs...you name it, he can fix it

***

He has taught HIMSELF to fix anything, it is not uncommon to see him with a computer magazine as his reading of choice

***

He's a great listener

***

He gives the best nicknames, or at least the goofiest ones and they tend to stick around

***

His Dad-isms that my kids have picked up on:

sammy=sandwich

stinky-st-I-nky=you need a bath

SH-edule=schedule

aaa-PRISE=surprise

***

His out of the blue sweet and encouraging texts, emails, phone calls just to tell me that he loves me and is proud of me

***

He is one of the most spiritual, in tuned person that I know

***

He has a way of giving you a smile that seems to make everything just feel better, that really is a gift that his dad, my grandpa, had too.

***

He is such a fun Grandpa aka "Pa"

***

His goofiness, don't let the man fool you. He may appear quiet and reserved but he is a goof at heart.

***

The man rips it up on a waterski...no joke he is amazing!!

***

He gives GREAT advice when asked, whether it is about which camera to buy or life-changing decisions he is always there.

***

He is super smart. He has always been an entrepeneur and never seems to run out of creative ideas and works extremely hard to make those ideas become something.

***

He loves my mom with all of his heart, they live together, work together, travel together, they even bowl on a 'couples league' together!

***

Family is #1 to him

***

He gets little "obsessions." You know

he has one when he is constantly online doing research and doesn't usually stop until he has found all the answers and made a purchase...unfortunately my husband has this "quality" too.

***

He cried at my wedding when we danced and told me how proud he is of me and how much he loves me.

***

Now that I am literally sitting at my desk with tears running down my face thinking about what a lucky girl I am to have him as my dad, I should sign off with just one more thought....

Dad, I love you the "most"

***

P.S. Trust me there are so many more great things about this man. So you believe me now that I am a pretty lucky gal??

The Beach

While we were at Paul's parents house we took the kids to see the beach, it is too cold to get in and play but it is so beautiful.

We were able to snap some family shots while we were there, even though it was super windy the morning that we went.

Our Pet...

well, sort of.

The kids think it is at least.

Meet

Flopsy Jr.

He is the little cottantail bunny that decided to live in our backyard.

He gets 4 carrots from us a day...

and in return we get a

Free, No Maintenance "Pet" to satisfy my kids craving for a real pet

The kids love to sit at the back porch window and watch him eat his carrots, but if you open the door off he runs.

I'm tellin' ya

THE PERFECT PET!

My Little Secret...

is out in the open.

Yes, I watch the Bachelorette!

Yes, I know it's fake.

Yes, I know it's unrealistic.

Yes, I know it's embarassing to admit.

But for some twisted reason it gets me hooked in each week.

So the question is...

Who else was ecstatic to see the cheating, egotistical, bad boy Wes get the boot this week??

(Don't be shy...if you watch too your secret is safe with me)

This kid...

keeps me laughing!!

Just last night we were talking about nicknames, and Paul says "Brig, I should call you Oscar" (he figured since he calls Raegan "Hollywood" that "Oscar" would be fitting for Brig)

Brig spouts back

"Like from Sharks Tale?....Nah, just call me LENNY!!!"

So, Lenny it is!

a Utah 4th of July...

is simply the best.

I love love love the 4th of July in Utah!! The last couple of weeks I have been wishing upon a star that we could go to Utah for the 4th...so the week of the 4th came and we figured...WHY NOT??

So we hopped in the car last minute and headed off.

I have to say it felt great to be so spontaneous

We started the big day off at the Provo Parade, of course, with Paul's family

and then to Aunt Janice's for a BBQ

Paul's sister, Cindy and I

we are only due 8 DAYS apart...how fun is that??

All the kids with Grandma Cannon (we missed you Sam & Jessie)

And for the Big Surprise:

The Jonas Brothers

at the Stadium of Fire

We kept it a secret until we got in our seats and boy were they excited. Brig couldn't believe that they were "real" and was a little star struck. Raegan rocked out the entire night, dancing on the bench, singing and even calling her friend, Dallas (on her fake phone) to tell him

"I'm at a Party, I gotta go!!"

It was a quick trip, but well worth the 24 hours in the car to spend the 4th of July in Utah with so much family!

Say What?!?

Okay, this post is for my sister, Jana, who I know is not a big fan of this hairdo...

I must admit I am not a fan either.

So I was at the salon today and I kid-you-not the lady sitting next to me had her magazine open to a gi-normous picture of the above mentioned Kate.

She sincerely said to the hairdresser

(drumroll, please)

"I want THIS haircut"

Ahhh, seriously??? It's like a backwards mullet...party in the front, business in the back.

Wow...I wish I would have still been there when her haircut was complete!