July Parties

Woodbury Family Reunion

The second weekend of July we drove up to St. George for the annual Woodbury family reunion. It is also so fun to see family and catch up. So many great grandkids are being born these days, it's crazy. Best part of a reunion, tons of adoring girls to hold my babies!

My mom and all her siblings and parents

Pregnant girls (just Mandi and Sarah)

Angie's new little guy, she is such a sweet mom

Angie's second doing what he does best

Bailey lovin' on Ali

Bachelorette Party

My sisters love the show. I got into it the last couple of weeks and it is kinda addicting. Emily threw a great party for the finale, complete with delicious dairy free popcorn (for yours truly) 

Dipping strawberries

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to the next bachelorette. Caity Camp is a splendid girl who loves  deep conversations about Harry Potter and long walks on the beach ( but ask her to keep her shoes on, her toe nails could use some work). Not to be picky but she only takes boys shorter than her with a receding hair line. Better hurry she won't last long. LOVE YOU!

Friends BBQ

Last Friday we had a big group of high school friends get together at my mom's house for food and swimming. I love seeing everyone all grown up and with kids. I am so glad that we all stay close.

Couples that came... Nick and I, Amanda and Lance Clemons, Sara and Ryan Young, Suzanne and Dan Scow, Jen and Jeff Croshow, and Coleman and Mandi Parker plus like 10 kids (wow guys we need to slow down with the kids already;)

Scarlett loved this floatie made for 6 months olds. She never stops amazing me

What Scarlett did while I wrote this

Talked to her self. She is big on using her hands while talking these days

Always has to sit on my lap and mess with the "puter"

A job's never done without nursing the baby. She came up to me and said "giving baby juice". Then she said  "all done" and chucked with doll against the wall. I promise I did not teach her that one. 

She just ran up stairs and it got really quite... not a good sign

On days that are hard

 (Watching the rain)

Scarlett has been quite a handful these days. I bathed her 6 times in 2 days. Why? Mascara to the face/lips, vaseline to her hair (and baby Ali), waffles/syrup mishap, and numerous "accidents". It has been a rough couple of days. For the last year Scarlett has had some major "poop issues." She insists on holding it in and then becomes possessed by the "poop demon", as we so lovingly call it. For two-three days she will cry constantly and whine and be mean and whine, all because she will not go. It is bad and it drives me crazy. I need therapy. I finally took her to the doctor and just as I expected they had no real answers except " just be patient and she will out grow it". Oh, and drug her up with Miralx. So from now until she is 6 or 7 I must practice a lot of patience. 

"Do not let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to love" President Monson. 

So when days get hard I will look at these... her singing the "temple song" and drawing after a bath. 

She is my precious 2 year old only once and I can not waste it being mad at her.

Alice 5 Months

I realized she turned 5 months yesterday and I had to kiss her a thousand times. She is delicious in every way. While I was folding clothes a couple days ago Scarlett gave Ali a toy and together they started laughing, just the two of them. Since then they have become little buddies. Scarlett brings Ali toys, blankets, diapers or whatever and they play together, laughing and smiling up a storm. It melts my heart and makes all the work of two little ones worth it. As soon as Scarlett comes in the room Ali giggles and smiles. Scarlett may be on the naughty list these days but she is a great big sister, always "soft and nice" as she says. 

New developments

- rolling everywhere

- loves to lay on a blanket and play with toys

- super wiggl, always kicking her legs and chewing on her feet

- still taking 2 long naps a day and in bed by 8pm

- We are starting food tonight. She has been grabbing at our food for about 2 weeks now

Cabin Weekend

We spent Saturday and Sunday up at my parents cabin. It is always nice to escape the heat and enjoy the beautiful out doors. We went on a fantastic hike down Giant Steps ski slope on Saturday with everyone. On the hike you hunt for geodes, asgate, fossils, and "fools" gold ( the people that run the hike plant them for you) . I loved it probably more than kids, I mean who doesn't love a treasure hunt. We will do this again next year for sure! The Ashton clan also stopped by and had dinner with us. Kim got me hooked on instagram and now I am always stealing Nick's iphone. Such a wonderful trip and relaxing trip. Oh, and to top it all of Scarlett did not have one accident in the car!

Just some of our "treasure"

Loved having Caity and Nate there, it always makes it fun. Here Caity is teaching us how to put on make up. She comes home in 2 weeks and we already convinced her to go to the store with us to buy make up and teach us how to use it.  I need to learn!

July 4th

We had a very traditional holiday filled with good food, friends, and lots of family. Tuesday night we went to our parents neighborhood party, like I have done for about 20 years. It is always so enjoyable to catch up with old friends and have a good ol' fashion neighborhood get together. Kids run barefoot in the grass and light sparklers, people are eating and talking loud, tons of babies get past around, and blankets are scattered on the grass for the firework show.  It is one huge neighborhood reunion, filled with all the friends I grew up and now all their kids. I love it! As I jiggled Alice to sleep and watched this scene play before me I could not help but be filled with gratitude for this country and the men/women who fight for our freedom. How blessed I am. As Scarlett says "Me proud to be 'Merican"

We went to an early morning parade in Boulder City with the Clemons. 

Scarlett loved all the stuff they passed out

                                                               Favorite "floats"

The weather was surprisingly cool all day. After the parade we goofed around in this park for a while and took a walk. 

These kiddos loved lighting sparklers 

Love Scarlett in the picture, she is so goofy. 

Potty Training

It has been about 5 days and she is doing great. She was initially freaked out about sitting on the potty but 13 hours of nothing but sitting on it changed that. We read books, sang songs and finally she went pee. I had to hold her down but she was very proud of her self after. Now she is going like a champ and can do it all her self. It's cute to watch her climb up by herself and wiggle her undies off. She holds up her shirt with her chin and then goes. She screams " ya, I went pee pee in the potty." I may or may not scream that too.

We sat together in this room for 13 hours the first day. I even sat on that towel to nurse the baby. It was a hard day I tell ya', but bum was sore for days. 

Of course Ali was a champ and didn't mind one bit being completely neglected. She just loved sitting in her swing and playing on a blanket. What a doll.

San Diego

About a week ago we went to San Diego with the whole Strobelt clan for the first annual (at least I hope it is annual) beach trip. Our super posh condo was right on the ocean and I mean right on the ocean.  Each morning I woke up hearing waves crash against the rocks, it was devine! Scarlett loved playing in the sand but the big waves made her a little nervous. Alice, of course, was fantastic. She did not even cry when she fell from her stroller and face dived into the sand.  Have I mentioned she is beautiful and perfect and sleeps through the night and totally loves me? We went to the beach everyday (Thursday and Friday) and stayed up way too late talking and playing games. It was perfect. 

PS I have finally figured out California's weather. The beach is cold people, sunny but cold. I invested a couple months ago in a cute, beachy sweater and it changed my life. I now love Cali. 

These two just love each other

I love that facial hair... it makes him look so tough!

Milne family

 Walking the pier

I know you are thinking "gosh those Strobelts have perfect kids and everything is grand" Well, here is the real us and frankly I love it most. I die laughing each time I see these pics. Oh, Scarlett you are a keeper!