Kaitlynn's First Laugh

While we were filming Adysen's birthday today, we captured Kaitlynn's first laugh on camera!! So awesome!!

Ice Cream and Cupcake Cookies--Birthday Preview

Well, it has taken me all afternoon to update the blog. Maybe if I updated weekly it would be a little easier. It's tough going through 500 pictures to select the ones to post!!

Be sure to click on "older posts" at the bottom...because there are that many new posts!!

Here is a little preview of Adysen's birthday treats! I will post more about her birthday later this week. I just discovered cookie decorating a couple months ago. I am excited for the next occasion to make a batch....Halloween seems a little too far away! Cookies anyone?!?! :)

For recipes see Our Best Bites

End of September Pictures

A few random pictures to wrap up September:

"I see you"

Holding her "baby." Needless to say, now she has one more thing to play with at dinner time.

Does anyone else have a hard time getting their kids to smile for the camera?

Fun with Sidewalk Chalk

September 16th--I finally pulled out the box of sidewalk chalk that we bought at the beginning of the summer....I cannot believe how fast this summer went!!

Adysen is helping Alton fix his bike...peak-a-boo!!

Two...Three...Two....Three...

This video was taken of Adysen at the end of August. She has been learning how to count. However, she usually just repeats two numbers over and over...in this case "two, three, two, three." Sometimes it is "three, four..." We are still (it is now October) working on linking them all together. :)

She is also learning her colors. At the time of the video she knew blue and yellow...although not always labeling things the correct color.

I was glad I was able to get this on tape before she saw the camera...she is such a cutie!!

Labor Day Weekend with Great Grandparents

We had a busy Labor Day weekend. Kaitlynn's blessing was on Sunday. (Stay tuned for another post on Kaitlynn's blessing.)

Monday, we drove up to Idaho. We stopped by Blackfoot and visited Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Smith. Then we went up to Rexburg to see Jenica and Jason's new house. Alton helped them paint for a couple of hours. Then we drove to American Falls to see Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Leyshon. We were also excited to see Aunt Natalie and her family. Then we headed back home to Salt Lake. We are looking forward to spending a little longer in Idaho next time. :) (The pictures are in reverse and mixed-up order...someday I'll figure out how to keep track of what I'm doing when I upload them. Does anyone else have this problem??)

**Disclaimer...Adysen is a very very happy girl. But for some reason we have a hard time getting her to smile for a camera. When the camera comes out...the smiles disappear...actually almost all expression disappears**

Professional Photos by Jenica

Alton's sister Jenica Sparks took our pictures when she came to Utah for Kaitlynn's blessing at the beginning of September. We love how they turned out! Stay tuned for a few more. You can also check them out on her photography blog: here and here. They look better on her blog because they are bigger (or you can click on the pictures below to see them larger).

A Weekend with the Alexanders

We were so lucky and happy to have our Alexander family come see us at the beginning of September. We love them all so much!!

Adysen enjoyed swimming with her Grandma Alexander in her "new" little pool (boughten at a yard sale around the corner that morning!!)

Listening to music with Aunt Kelsie.

Family style dining at Buca Di Beppo. We love the food here...but it helps to have a few extra people with you...the servings are huge!

How much chocolate cake can one little girl eat?

Our Little Photographer

Adysen loves the digital camera! Part of the challenge of updating our blog is sifting though the hundreds of pictures to find the best ones to post. Often I come across some interesting photos taken by the littlest photographer in our family (luckily Kaitlynn hasn't quite hit this stage yet and is still willing to have her photo taken without reaching for the camera).

Grandpa Alexander:

Aunt Kelsie: