Laboring

We spent Labor Day morning busy at home.  Bryan worked on the car

and I painted.

Then Jilly woke up from her nap and informed us that Labor Day was actually a day to take a break from our labors. So we packed a picnic and headed to Folsom Lake.

I wish every day was Labor Day

Festivities on the Fourth

We started out at a ward pancake breakfast.  Jilly loved watching all the kids in the bike parade which further solidified Bryan's resolve to get her a bike for her birthday.

Then we headed to Oakley and went swimming.  Jilly loved jumping to her daddy and Uncle Chad.

Luckily the water fight started after the girls got out

After a good old American barbeque, we headed out for a parade and fireworks.  Jilly was looking very patriotic.

Parade watching

Fireworks!  A check off our Sumer Bucket List!

(fireworks pictures taken by Chad)

We ♥ Our Dads

Jilly and I are lucky to have 3 great Dads in our life.  We had fun planning surprises for them for Father's Day

My dad got this picture (which I love so much) in a frame:

Bryan's dad got this:

Bryan wanted some biking apparatus that I was not confident shopping for on my own so we just put some money in this little bag (tutorial here.)

 And Jilly also made him some handprints, just like last year.  He has a frame at work to put them in.

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Thanks for being great Dads, we love you!!!

Baby, you're a firework

Last year on the 4th of July we were at the beach with my family.  There was a huge rainstorm that night so we didn't get to see any fireworks.  We were bummed, but it wasn't too much of a loss because we weren't sure how Jilly would feel about fireworks anyway.  But this year we are pretty psyched about seeing fireworks.

Bryan found an app on our kindle fire called Fireworks Arcade.  It is amazing.  We all sit and just stare at the fireworks on the screen.  It's made us even more excited for our real show in a few weeks.

image via

Mother's Day Weekend

On Saturday we took Jilly to the pool.  She learned what daddy does at the pool:

And what mommy does at the pool:

Then we drove to Bryan's parents' house and we went to Lumpy's for delicious burgers, onion rings, and milkshakes.   After eating we went to the park, which had these fun spinny chairs- not exactly the brightest idea right after eating your weight in grease.

Sunday morning Jilly practiced walking in high heels.  She was actually quite good at it!

At dinner with the whole family Jilly loved playing with Tylee.  I found this picture of them playing last year, it's crazy what a difference a year can make!

I love this little girl to bits!

Happy Mother's Day

Exactly eighteen months ago I became a mom.  I've learned a lot and have a lot more to learn still.  I'm so grateful for this happy, spunky, little girl who makes every day more joyful.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

green

For us St. Patrick's Day is all about food.  On Friday night we went to Bryan's parents' and had corned beef and cabbage (my first time and it was delicious!)  Then on Saturday we had taco salad with green cilantro lime dressing.  

Don't worry, we also wore green-

 

(I didn't realize how crazy her hair was until after the picture was taken, oops!)

It should be a rule

that aunties aren't allowed to live more than 20 miles away.

Jillian adores her Aunt Katie.  She followed her around, forced her to read every book in the house, insisted on always sitting on Katie's lap and eating her food, and generally preferred her to Bryan and me.  Since Katie left this morning, Jilly has been forlornly wandering around the house looking for her friend.

One day we went to the Sacramento Zoo.  It was a beautiful day and Jilly is really starting to like animals, so we had a great time.

Another day we went to a Kings game

We also:

had a very successful shopping trip at the outlets (successful is subject to opinion- Bryan and Neal would possibly call the shopping unsuccessful)

ate at Crepeville (one of my very favorite Sacramento finds) and In N Out

got manicures

walked around the temple and the lake

made these

watched Footloose, Mama Mia, Never Say Never, and The Bachelor

Sisters shouldn't be allowed to live more than 20 miles away either!

To console our lonely hearts, we're celebrating Pi Day and eating our favorite cookie pie tonight.  

thankful

We have so so so many things to be grateful for.  And, what a blessing it is to have a day to relax and enjoy being with family.

I channeled my inner Manny and designed our centerpiece.  Bryan told me it was "a hit and a miss" but I won't let it get me down.

We had a most delicious feast all prepared by my amazing mom.

our excellent turkey carver 

 around the table  (Jilly was conveniently napping during dinner- we missed her, but it was so delightful to have a peaceful meal)

Jilly's favorite part of the day was her post-dinner lollipop

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Halloweekend

Bryan and I showed our age this weekend.  We went to our ward Trunk or Treat on Friday night, Apple Hill with our friends Saturday morning, a Halloween party Saturday night, then a family Halloween dinner on Sunday.  Little Jilly was a trooper and wore approximately 15 costumes/outfits over the weekend.  When we got the party invitation it said the party went until midnight.  I found it astonishing  that people were still awake, let alone partying at midnight.  We only made it until 10pm, but were very impressed that our party animal daughter was happy and delightful 2 hours after her usual bedtime.  On our way home from Bryan's parents on Sunday night Bryan said, "Thank goodness tomorrow is Halloween and we can finally sit and relax at home."  Despite the fact that our weekend totally wore us out we had a great time.

Jilly walking with Miranda and Emily 

The gang at Apple Hill- can you tell why everyone thinks we're sisters? 

"It's a Small World" Bryan is Mexican, I'm Japanese, Jilly is Indian - all our costumes are authentic (except for the mustache...)  We downloaded "It's a Small World" and Bryan kept it playing on his ipod all night long- no doubt everyone appreciated having the song stuck in their head.

My little ladybug 

Halloween Jammies- I love sneaking into Jilly's room at night to see my little glow in the dark skeleton lying in her crib

Happy Halloween!