Monday, August 2, 2010

Summertime and The Living's Easy


July has been a fun, crazy, eventful month. It's hard for me to believe that it is already August, time flies when you are having fun. I've been really lacking in the blogging department, so this post is HUGE. I'm just going to make one giant July post, I hope it's not too overwhelming.

Our Canada Trip
As soon as Dave Defended his thesis, we packed up the car and the girls and headed north. We had a great time with my family.
Southern Alberta in the summer is gorgeous and a heck of a lot cooler than Utah, it was so nice to get a bit of a break from the heat.


We did some Geo-caching while we were up there.
We took my parents and the Heggie kids on an adventure along the river bottom in Cardston.

Maggie with Alberta's Provincial Flower, The Wild Rose.

One of Caches we found in Cardston. Someone had hollowed out the log to hide the container it.
It was pretty cool.

After the walk, the little ones (Maggie, Chloe, and cousin Jovi) cooled off in the pool.
I think it's hilarious that Maggie is wearing her water wings in 3 inches of water (she insisted).
Safety first, I guess.

Summer days are exhausting.

We went on a carriage ride at the Remington Carriage Museum.



Canada Day/Waterton
Our Picnic Site. Waterton is my favourite place.

Chloe was just happy to be outside.

Uncle James and Maggie

She was a little nervous, but the other day she was telling me about how much fun she had when she went with Uncle James in the Boat.

Chasing Deer

There is a Geo-cache where you have to fine this marker about Blakiston Valley and take the info that you found back to the Museum in the Town and they give you a book - Fun and educational.
Blakiston Mountain in the background, the tallest peak in Waterton.
The R.C.M.P were dressed in their Traditional Uniform for Canada Day.

When we got back to Cardston we drove by the Temple and were able to get a picture of 2 Owls that live there.

The Town of Cardston had a Party in the Park that evening. My girls were VERY excited about the petting zoo.

Chloe and Aunt Julie.
Too much excitement for one day.

Back at Grandma and Grandpa's for a Hot Dog Roast.

Somebody started to take her first steps while we were in Canada.

July 4th/Whitefish Montana
We went to the Parade in Big Fork on the 4th.
This is one of my favourite pictures.
I love that she still has her Maple Leaf Tattoo on while she is waving the American Flag.
I hope I can instill a love of both Countries to my children. We truly are blessed.

Aunt Tammy with nieces from both sides. Chloe and McKinley are just a week apart.

Maggie and Jovi enjoyed the sand at Whitefish beach, while we waited for the fireworks.

Still digging.

The fireworks were amazing. I love this time of year.


Back Home to Utah
These are just some random pictures of the girls.
She picked out her own outfit for the day. She's got an awesome sense of style.

Admit it, you just want to eat her up...maybe it's just me...

I love Maggie's Smile, she's got the biggest grin.


Bald Mountain
We went with Dave's family on a hike.
The girls woke up that morning with colds and it was really cold and windy the higher we got, so we turned around about 1/2 mile from the top.
It was still beautiful and the drive to the mountain was gorgeous.
You could see so many lakes in the distance.
Chloe was asleep on my back.

Provo River Falls, we stopped on the way back from our hike.

Dave and Maggie at the Falls.

Poor Chloe, July has just worn her out.

Visit from the McLachlans
Julie's family came to visit and spent a few days with us on their way to Lake Powell.
We went up to SLC and did the touristy stuff Downtown and at Temple Square.
Maggie and Kwynci playing in the fountains at the Gateway mall.

I love the action shot.

Dave's name is on the wall by the fountain as a tribute and thank you to all the volunteer of the Salt Lake Olympics.

The McLachlans.
It was so much fun to have them visit. We all miss them very much.

This is the new model of the Temple in the Visitor's Center.
It's really quite amazing.


Farewell July.
Thanks for all the memories, you were very good to us.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Happy Birthday Coco!

Today my baby is 1 year old!
Chloe is awesome, oh how I love this little girl. Her personality seriously cracks me up.
I love her goofy grin, her silly laugh, her slobbery kisses, her great dance moves and watching her learn and grow every day.
It is so fun to watch her and Maggie play together....they ADORE each other.
I just love her cute little face and expressions.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!
I LOVE YOU.

Chloe Dee Betts at 1 Year Old
Favourite Foods
- Blueberries, Quesadillas, Cheese.
(She does really good to feed herself, but then loves to stick her finger down her throat and gag when she is finished, my bulimic baby)
Favourite People
- MOMMY, with Maggie and Daddy as close seconds.
Favourite Activities
- Doing whatever Maggie is doing.
- Walking, she took her first steps at 11 months and is doing really good at walking around the house (She stood up in the middle of the floor, all by herself, for the first time today).
- Playing in the bathroom...especially the toilet, so disgusting...unfortunately her older sister is an inabler and opens the door for her.
- Sleeping in Mommy's bed.
- Climbing!
Words
Momma, Dadda, (and sounds for Puppy and Monkey)
Signs
Puppy, Hat, Thank you, Food/Eat, Monkey, Kitty, Hello, Baby, Want.
Teeth
8 and a quarter (one cuspid of a molar just popped through today)


Opening Presents






The Cake
My family has a tradition of letting the 1 year old attack the cake. Chloe really enjoyed this tradition. It was a lot of fun to watch her destroy the Monkey.









I think she did a good job of it :)

One Year Ago
I got a little choked up as I went through the pictures of Chloe's 'Birth' day. It's amazing how much they change and grow just in one year.
She's not a little baby anymore.
Getting ready for the Big Arrival.

Meeting for the first time.

She was Ticked

Her 1st few hours of life were a little rough. Her lungs weren't co-operating as well as they should have, so she got to spend a little time in the NICU. I'm sure they don't have many 9 1/2 pounders in there.

Finally able to relax with Momma

Meeting Her Big Sister.

Isn't she just about the cutest thing you've ever seen. I can't wait to see what this next year brings for our sweet little Coco.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Two more names

When Laura listed some names for Chloe (click here), she forgot two of the most important names.

The first name forgotten is rodent - Chloe loves to find and chew on cords. It looked especially rodent-like when she just had two top and two bottom teeth.

The more important name that was forgotten is Roomba. Coco is just like those little automatic vacuum cleaners. She scoots around on the floor and finds EVERY LAST bit of junk that may have fallen to the floor. You can finish cleaning up in a room and somehow she'll come in and find the one hair elastic that didn't get picked up. At least the floor is cleaner once she's been through the room.