Costco

Emery usually rides in the Ergo carrier while I push Seth in the cart. She always cranes her neck to him, but this past week I decided to put her next to him in the cool Costco carts that seat two. Um, you think she liked it? She was so giggly and proud of herself.

Her Best Friend (and a million other posts)

SETH

The way Emery lights up when I walk into the room pales in comparison to the way she reacts when Seth is around! Oh how this girl loves him. She watches him like a hawk and already mimics him. He can make her laugh just by looking at her. He loves her too and wants to do what she does as well. I love watching them interact. I love that they love each other.

Seth wanted his face to be messy just like her.

(Elmo also makes the cut as her best friend. She loves watching this doll sing to her)

She tries hard to be near him and is happiest when she is.

and visa versa! no joke

Smiley, 6 month Portraits

We hardly had to try to get this girl to smile.

Family Portrait

Seth drew a picture a while back that completely caught me off guard. I had no idea he knew how to draw anything but circles and scribbles. Apparently he can draw people because he came in the room and told me that he drew a picture of me! I'm on the left. After you giggle at how I look, notice how correct it is. Eyes, mouth, arms and legs with knobs for hands and feet. CRAZY! I had no idea... I was so impressed with his artistic ability at 2 and a half. I had second graders that still drew amoeba people. Also included in this picture is Seth (to the right, in green), Brandon (the long green stick) and Paige (the purple figure on the end with a ponytail...yes, Paige made the family portrait). I asked where Emery was and he pointed out the floating Orange circle. Such a cute boy!

Camping in the Backyard

Tent, sleeping bags, smores, campfires, lanterns, flashlights...everything except the wilderness. We went camping in our backyard. Sadly this is the first time Seth has been camping, but is was sure fun! We never seem to have to time to pack up and get out there for the weekend. This made it easy. The Ericksons went "camping" with us. Chad and Brandon set up to HUGE tents that filled the backyard. Both Paige and Seth had their own. We roasted marshmallows and ate s'mores over our patio fire pit. Once the kids were snug and sleeping the adults just got to hang outside enjoying "nature" and chatting around the fire. It was the best camping ever, because guess where Brittany and I slept with the two babies. INSIDE on nice cushy beds.

Davis family takes Tahoe!

Yep, this is the crew! I really did marry into an awesome family. There are 18 grandkids at the moment. Thank goodness this picture is far away because the odds are not on our side that everyone will be looking smiley and stunning all at once.

We had so much fun, but the trip seemed to fly by. We went on a hike altogether, swam and rode wave runners, ate great food, sat in the hot tub, played cards, and had family olympics. Once I steal pictures from Bret I'll post those...so so funny! Brandon's brothers dot the west coast from Oregon down to LA. It is so nice when everyone gets together. (A lot of work to pull it off, I'm sure)

Since neither of our kids were very into taking pictures that day Brandon and I snapped one for ourselves.

Brandon, and the other Uncles took kids out on the wave runners. It was so fun. At one point Brandon took me and Seth together. Emery had to camp it out on the shore (actually she was asleep). Someday...

Claire and Seth played in the water together. She is one cute girl! They are about 3 weeks apart.

Seth Boxed out in the garage.

After our family hike Brandon and I took Seth on a smaller hike to a waterfall. It was one of the best views of the lake. Emery was a trooper. You would guess this was her first hike, but it wasn't. She had already been on a longer one in Big Bear. She and Seth did great!

Note all the sleeping adults while the kids are watching tv! I came down to the Uncles sacked! It cracked me up so I had to snap a shot!

A randon story from the trip:

Andi and I saw a black bear one night! We left to the grocery store and didn't close the garage door. When we pulled back in at about 8:00 pm a large figure moved around the other car parked in the garage. Andi and I screamed, reversed the car and the bear ran out. The bear ran to the front door of the colossal house we were staying at. I called Brandon, who was inside and all the kids ended up running to the window to catch a peek of the bear.