Coloring

Emma loves to color! I got her this giant coloring book a few days ago and she has asked me to color everyday, like 3 times a day. SO cute. She's learned that crayons are not supposed to go in your mouth but every once in a while I'll catch her with one in there and she'll look at me and say "yucky". That's right Emma, yucky.

I kinda forgot how much I like coloring. I know what you're thinking, 'Jacey, coloring is for toddlers, how old are you?' But I actually enjoy it! Haha! Sitting and coloring with Emma reminded me of when my mom used to color with me when I was little and how I thought she was so amazing, and I would think, 'how does she stay in the lines so good??'

That started me thinking about how great my mom is. She always made time to sit with us and do whatever. She would stop right in the middle of her crazy day just to spend a few moments with us, and play or sing or color or twirl or do handstands or read. I hope I can be like that for all of my kids. :)

Happy Coloring!!

Charlotte

About three weeks ago we moved into our very first house!! We have lived at Thomas' parents house the past 8 months and couldn't have been more grateful for their hospitality and willingness to let us invade their space! As much as we loved living there, we were so excited when we found this house in southeast Mesa and even more excited when our offer got accepted! It is the perfect size for our little family (3 bedroom, 2 bath) and we expect to be here for the next few years. Thomas conveniently had a three week break from school that started the week we signed on the house and so moving and unpacking and organizing took no time at all with all of his help! The first night we moved in, we put Emma down to bed, and Thomas and I just sat on the couch with huge grins on our faces. It was kind of an indescribable feeling, knowing that we had our own little house, all to ourselves, and trying not to think too much about all the responsibility that comes with it...we could save that for another day :). Now that we've been in here for about three weeks I am loving it. I feel like Charlotte Lucas in 'Pride and Prejudice' (the Keira Knightly version) when she says, "Oh Lizzy, it is such a pleasure to run my own home" :)

Here's what we've been up to prior to, and since moving, starting with the end of July:

Swimming with the Nelsons

Arizona Museum of Natural History with friends,

Aunt Paige staying with us for the weekend,

Emma growing up way too fast,

More swimming, only half naked this time :),

Camping up on the rim (Emma did super awesome = happy parents = more camping trips in the future)

Celebrated three birthdays in August: Grandpa Kody (sorry no pics), Uncle Tanner, and Thomas,
And going to a Cardinal's game!

Thomas started school again this week so now it's time for me to start on all my decorating projects! I'm so excited, can't wait :)

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!!


p.s. I'm trying to figure out what to do for Emma's Halloween costume (I know what you're thinking... it's WAY to early to be thinking about Halloween... BUT, I'd like to make her costume by hand and the chances of me having to re-do it a few times are really good...SO I want to start soon!)

Any suggestions ??

My honey bunches of oats

Happy 26th Birthday, Thomas!!!

I love you more than words can say. Hope you have a wonderful birthday, sweetie :)

swimming, road trips, fireworks, family, games, and everything else

Here it is at last. My June/July summer post!

First let's start with a cute picture of Emma:

Ok, now a picture of Emma doing her two favorite things:
Watching movies with her dolls and raiding the pantry for food.

Ok, now the real post :)
In June we went to Paige's dance recital,

had lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Thurston,
Thomas started PA school!
(Sorry no picture. Just imagine him sitting at a desk in a classroom staring at a computer for like 10 hours straight...everyday...)

we celebrated cousin Porter's 2nd birthday,

and started hanging out in the pool!

Then in July, Emma and I went on an Idahoan adventure :)
We took a road trip up to Idaho (with a pit stop in Provo) with Grandpa Thurston

We stayed in Provo for one night to pick up Parker in the morning. While we were there we just had to take a cruise around BYU campus, and we 'accidentally' ran into Parker at EFY. Then we had dinner at Cafe Rio. yumm.

Once we got to Idaho it was all fun and games at Grandma Thurston's house

We celebrated 4th of July with lots of family and food. Emma had fun with her patriotic headband :)

We went bowling with the Lambert Family and I scored my personal all-time high score of 123!

And to end off the 4th with a bang, we had our own personal fireworks show in my grandma's backyard, compliments of my cousin Jayli
We had a blast the rest of the week:

BBQ in the park with the Lambert Family,

morning walks/jogs with grandma and grandpa, more bowling, lots of frozen yogurt, and yummy food.

We headed out to Twin Falls one day to visit with some cousins,

and eat more frozen yogurt (at Kiwi Loco),

and went swimming in Oakley with the Gibby's at the end of the week,

We also played lots of golf (the card game, not the sport. Please, do I look like I golf? Not a chance) the entire time!

On Saturday we made the long drive home after spending 8 wonderful days in Idaho. It was time to come home though...I missed my hubby too much :)

Since we've been back, Emma has learned to walk in high heels...Haha she likes to walk around in these purple princess shoes and she's pretty good at it!

And she has her very own chair that she loves to climb into and sit on :)

We also had Tia Rosa's for dinner with my dad and Parker one night....mmmm...

And a week ago Thomas had his White Coat Ceremony to be officially inducted into his Physician Assistant program at A.T. Still University. He looks so studly in his white coat :)