a week of visitors!

We have had visitors all week long, which makes for a really fun week! Scott's sister Christa came down from Idaho with her family and we had so much fun with them just hanging out and catching up. Makenna had a lot of fun with her older cousins Raegan and Emily, and was in heaven when they put on a dance show for us! It was so much fun to see them and we miss them a lot since we lived by them for a couple years. I stunk at taking pictures while they were here, but here is their ADORABLE baby Jacob!

Then Scott's best friend from High School, Justin, and his other friend, Kim, came to visit on Friday! They are married now but were both part of Scott's crew in High school which consisted of Extreme White Boys (XWB) and Dorky White Chicks (DWC). Love my husband. We had so much fun with them playing games and catching up.

Then yesterday the Bentleys + Tommy came to visit from Farmington (Tommy was down from Idaho). We went to Tingley beach for fishing and then to the Aquarium and Botanical Gardens. It was so much fun! I love watching Makenna play with her cousins... so fun! These kids loved taking pictures, and most of these poses they came up with themselves! "Take a picture Aunt Kristie!" I'm like "okay!!!" I'm not used to that kind of cooperation...

While we were at the Botanical Gardens I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the kids...

I was surprised to get this one where they were both looking and smiling- Hooray!

Almost 17 months!

Doesn't everyone do an "almost 17 months" post? haha, ok maybe I just needed an excuse to write a long overdue post on the Jace happenings. Jace definitely has me wrapped around his little finger. There is something about him that is so sweet and irresistible. I find myself kissin on him all day! If I need a little Jace lovin, I bend down and hold my arms out, and he'll stop whatever he's doing and run to me with his arms out and a big smile on his face. He's my little snuggle bug. I don't know his stats or anything, but all I can say is I have never met a boy his age that is bigger so I guess that is saying something.

Words:
Ball (his first word that actually meant something)
Da (dad)
Mom
Do (as in dog without the "g")
Bear (bird)
"b" (book)
bebe (baby)
Duh (done)
ba (sippy)
Hi
Bye
Yeah, not a lot. This kid is super talkative though. He is always having convos with himself, telling us stories, and talking to anyone who will listen! It kills me.

Favorite things:
1. Books. He is obsessed with his animal book and he constantly wants me to read it to him!

2. Babies. He gravitates to babies. He loves to watch them and love them and hug them, which is sometimes scary because of his size!

3. Balls. I don't think a minute goes by when he isn't talking about a ball, throwing a ball, carrying around a ball, or kicking a ball. He loves em!

4. Dogs. He seriously begs us every day to lift him up so he can see the dogs on the other side of the fence. He cannot get enough and makes the cutest little dog sounds.

5. Food. The kid could eat all day long. He eats more than Makenna at meal times, and is constantly trying to find food around the house and backyard. (and yes I feed him plenty so he's not starving or anything!) Every day he goes out to our gardens to see if anything is ready to pick. He is always the first to pick our strawberries, and has also tried a summer squash right off the plant- yummm. We also find him sneaking in the pantry whenever he can. I have it locked most of the time, but if I forget to shut it, you better believe that kid is getting into it and dumping out cereal boxes and crackers. I have never seen a little kid with quite the appetite!

and here are Jace's favorite songs right now!

Playing in the rain

We had an amazing rain storm last week. We decided to take the kids outside on our porch and just watched the rain POUR from the sky. It was really fun to share a moment like that with our kids! Then when the rain stopped we let them play in the puddles and there was an amazing rainbow. It was just a really great day!

LOVIN the puddles

The rainbow is above their heads in these pictures

You would not BELIeve how fast the rain dries up here. Within a half hour the roads and sidewalks are completely dry. It doesn't even look like it rained much in this picture!

I really like these plants for about a week every year... I think they may just be worth it!

Pure Joy...

Scott is such a good dad! I'm so grateful to be married to a man that loves being a dad to his kids. Happy Father's Day babe!

I love Dads! Get the tissues...

FamiLEE

We went down to the temple and took these pictures last week. Not professional, but turned out alright! It is SO hard to get a picture with everyone smiling and looking at the camera! In fact, I don't think we got any! haha

ZOOOOOOO

I looove when we go to the zoo and exciting things happen. In the past we have seen: jaguars fight, a monkey nursing her baby, hippos play with a ball (they are normally super boring), a giraffe reach his head over a couple feet away from us, a polar bear slide down the water slide, a tiger fight with his reflection, a cougar trying to pee on the people walking below him, and I'm sure there are others! (can you tell we like the zoo?) Well yesterday did not disappoint.

A couple of orangutans? Look closer!!

Seriously so cute

Jace was in HEAVEN watching the monkeys. This one perched just a couple feet away.

I need one of these slides!

Enjoying the view

When we got to the Lions, this one was perched up on the rock... my favorite view of him.

But then, the female came up to him and they got snuggly! I have never seen these two even near each other.

Then the Lion got up and started growling as if he was protecting the Lioness. Holy cow! Hearing a Lion growl in person is definitely on my list of the most amazing sounds I've ever heard.

Scott and I agreed that the zoo is just as cool for adults as the children. I absolutely love going, and we just got a new pass so if anyone wants to go, give me a call!!

Ladie's Man

We had Adalee here the other day and Jace LOVED her. He could not keep his hands off her and was very sweet and tender with her! It was the cutest thing. I think she started getting a little sick of it though as you can see in the last picture! Look at those eyes!

We love visitors!

My gorgeous cousin Ashley and her cool husband, Tyler, came to see us! We loved having them here!

Joy School Grad

Throwing their hats!

Performing a song

Makenna "graduated" from her first year of joy school a couple weeks ago. We had a little ceremony and then a pool party. It was really cute. I have LOVED doing joy school with Makenna. It's great. I love the structure and the things they learn are so much fun.

When I have grown a foot or two...

While having a discussion about missions...

Me- "Someday Jace will be a missionary. You can be a missionary too if you want to."
Makenna- "But I don't want to be a missionary mom!"
Me- "Why not?"
Makenna- "Because I want to be a princess!"

Duh mom.

A child's prayer

Jace learning to fold his arms and "bow" his head!