July hike with Dad

Dad and I spent the morning hiking. Our original destination was crowded so we ended up on a different trail. This trail didn't have as much shade but there was plenty of room for us to walk side by side (most of the way) and talk.
As always, Dad is one step ahead of me. He was built for hiking and I was huffing and puffing. I am so out of shape.

Notice the red face - I didn't think it was that bad until I saw the photo! Yikes!

The close up!

And - Dad's new jeep!
This is the first time I can remember Dad not having a Trooper!
I'm sure he didn't get another one because they stopped making them!
Sorry Dad!

Tutu

The fourth of July was fun for Afton running around in this cute little outfit. Grandma W. made this adorable tutu and bought these fun red, white and blue flip flops. 

I am amazed Afton will wear either one. She is such a little girl! 

4th of July and birthday party

Today my mom had us over for a combined 4th of July and birthday party!
The kids were going to play in the pool and use the slip and slide but it ended up being a fairly cool day. They didn't mind and spent the morning digging in the sandbox, swinging on the swings, eating mini cupcakes, and throwing snaps on the concrete!

Grandma made a delicious lunch, along with cake and everyone sang Happy Birthday!

Lately

Lettuce from the garden!

 Afton's yummy ice cream cone!

Afton's cute hair! I can't believe how long it is!
She has also decided that bows are cute! Yeah!

Falling asleep on the beach ball after playing in Grandma W.'s little pool!

New bike trailer! Afton LOVED riding around!

In the yard, in the diaper!

Blanket cape!

Yummy corn on the cob!

I can't believe how much Afton has grown. I am fascinated by her and couldn't love anyone or anything more.
I haven't been very good at keeping track of her progress lately but she seems to change and grow constantly.
Lately Afton
*likes to call me Heather and her daddy Brett
*decided bows are cute and tutu's are fun
*loves making her own decisions
*says everything and anything - she has been talking in sentences for quite a while now
*isn't really excited about getting dirty
*sleeps 10 to 11 hours a night and sleeps 1 and half to 3 hours a day
*doesn't care to eat much except snacks and milk
*loves to color, paint, draw
*loves bubbles
*loves sitting in her little bench outside
*will pick up any bug
I could go on but I'm too tired to write anymore!

More books

I won't take a picture of every book but I'm so excited about this exchange I wanted to post another picture!
This book is adorable and Afton loves to push the button that makes the fireflies light up!

If I sent you the invite and you haven't done it or don't want to - let me know so I can send it to someone else.
If I didn't send you one to begin with and you want in let me know!

It's already worth the money just getting these two books in the mail!

 

Tinfoil dinners

Tonight we headed up American Fork Canyon for dinner. It felt so good to be sitting in the mountains enjoying the 60 degree weather, breathing the fresh air. Afton didn't want to eat and stayed busy running up and down trails, exploring her new environment. Brett and I took turns eating and once we finished we headed up the mountain for a quick hike. Afton loved running up the trail and wanted mommy and daddy on each side. The trail wasn't very wide so it was a challenge for us to stay with her and not fall over. I haven't spent as much time as I used to in the canyon so tonight felt great. I can't wait to go back!

 
 
 

Lovin' Lehi

After 5 years of living in Lehi Brett and I finally made it to the Lehi parade. We were excited to take Afton and even though she was more interested in the rocks it was still fun! She loved visiting the animals and Tim and Keeley met us there! Afton had fun playing on the playground with Keeley and they even spent time in the big blow up tunnel!

Later that night we met Grandma, Grandpa, Melis, Tally, Holdy, Tim, and Keeley at the rodeo grounds for a night of fun! We stopped by for a picture with the clown before heading in. Afton wasn't very happy about that!

Afton stood on grandma's lap through most of the rodeo and stayed busy eating cookies, an apple, m&m's, peas, and other yummy stuff!
She was really worried during the calf roping and kept saying, "baby cow fall down" "oh no", etc. Poor kid, she talked about it the whole way home. Check out the audio at the end of this post!
We left a few minutes early to beat the traffic and Afton did well considering it was past her bedtime!

I was sitting behind my mom who had Afton most of the night and somehow didn't end up with any pictures of her! :(

A little audio:

I Spy

What do you see in this picture?

Can you see it? It's a cute little duck sitting on it's nest in the flower bed. The other day Brett and Afton were walking toward each other on the path and they spooked the poor thing. We wouldn't have known it was there if not for that moment. We had seen two ducks in our yard prior to that but figured they were just stopping by.
Pretty soon we'll have six little ducklings running around! Hope they survive Afton! 

Sidewalk chalk

I'm not a big fan of this heat but this morning after our walk Afton and I spent some time out back drawing and coloring on the patio. Luckily the sun doesn't hit the back porch until the middle of the day!
Afton loved the big pieces of chalk and didn't want to color alone. Every time I tried to take a picture she would hand me the chalk and say, "you do it".
So much fun!

Grandpa's and little girls

As I was looking for my way back when photos I found this photo of me and my grandpa Watrous when I was one. I loved my grandpa and thought Father's Day was the perfect time for me to post this picture.

The really fun thing about this is that I have a very similar photo of Afton with my dad.

My grandpa and my dad are a lot alike and these pictures are wonderful.

Way Back When

My dad and I have always been good friends. When I was little we loved spending time together whether it was going for a drive or throwing a football.

I love looking back at these old pictures! Each moment captured gives me a feeling even if I was too young to have the memory.

Today at 35 my dad is still one of my best friends. We like to go fishing, hit golf balls, see movies, explore the desert, and find yummy places to eat. 

I love you dad!

And...thank you mom for documenting these moments!

Father's Day

Brett is the best dad! He can't wait to come home and take Afton exploring outside. They work in the garden, go for walks, find snakes, talk about the different kinds of birds in the yard and always enjoy each others company.
Once the sun goes down Brett and Afton come in and Brett gives Afton her milk, her bath and reads her bedtime stories! Afton and I are both so lucky to have him!

This was Afton's gift to her dad! She loves to paint and had fun making this artwork for daddy's office!

Book exchange!

Afton received a letter in the mail for a kid's book exchange and my first reaction was to throw it away. I NEVER do things like this but I figured it couldn't hurt to try and guess what?
Afton already got her first book!
Yeah!

Blue dress

I wondered when this day would come...

Afton ASKED to wear a dress today. We went through her assortment of play dresses and she chose to wear this cute blue dress from Grandma Watrous. 

She even let me put a bow in her hair!

I can't believe it!

And...she was smiling and happy before I decided we were doing a photo shoot. She was much easier to take pictures of when she was little. 

Sigh...