JULY!!

My last post was in July.

I told you I would never be a good blogger.

The Big 18 Months

So way back, like more than a month ago, Chelsea turned 18 months. (Yes, it's been a while since my last post.) She still doesn't say much that is decipherable, but she definitely can still express her opinion. Her age is so cute and funny, it's great to see her new discoveries every day.

Her top 10 faves now are:

1. SWIMMING-And by swimming I mean, driving her Mom crazy as she trys to fling herself into the water so she can swim by herself.

2. CLIMBING ON THE COUCH AND JUMPING AROUND-Also driving her Mom crazy because at some point there will be blood and stitches. I know it.

3. HER PINK PUPPY

4. COPYING HER SISTER'S EVERY MOVE-Good and bad.

5. "HELPING"-Taking the broom and swishing it all over the floor scattering all the neat piles Mom had made.

6. DANCING

7. HER DADDY

8. SHOES- Hers, Brins, Moms, Dad's, any will do.

9. DOGS

10. NIGHTTIME AND NAP TIME-She has her mothers genes, what can I say.

The Carousel

We were invited to a fun birthday party this past week for Brinley's friend Kadance. It was held at The District, at the Carousel. Basically we got to ride the Carousel unlimited times . The girls had a blast. Brin had fun riding with her friends and changing animals. Chelsea had no problem with the idea and even pointed to the one she wanted to ride next. They both fussed when I told them it was time to go. It was a unique and fun birthday party.

p.s. Do you see the blurriness in the pictures? Yeah, the lens was dirty from some little finger I am sure. Plus, I really am not a good photographer. But, at least I remembered to take the camera. And I remembered to actually take pictures. That is amazing in and of itself.

p.p.s. Do I use to many commas?

Swim season is here!

It's officially hot here in Las Vegas. That means it is pool time. We do not have a "real" pool in our backyard, but we have the next best thing... The blow up pool! On the hard ground! With 4 inches of cold water! Despite our less than stellar pool situation, the girls have fun. We add some bath toys and buckets and they do their thing. The day I put it out actually had a wind and they were kind of cold in the shade, so we put the towels in the sun on the hot roasting ground. It's fun to watch them and it gives them a chance to be outside without dying from heat.

And I was able to finish my book for book club.

Tinkerbell tat

We had date night last week and the Sherman's watched the girls. They went to a neighborhood block party and Brinley got a "tattoo". Not just any kind of tattoo, but a Tinkerbell one. It was really cute. The next morning I told her she needed to take a bath and we would be washing off Tinkerbell. Of course she had a fit (because that's how she rolls these days) and I told her fine, I wouldn't wash it off, but she was responsible for not letting it get wet. She took her whole bath with one arm up and out of the water. Not one drop got on Tinkerbell. She was so proud.

And it was a nice addition to her pretty dress at church that day.

You pick your battles, right?

The Magnolia Tree

Years ago, Marty and I went to San Diego for vacation, er, I mean CPA training :) While we were there, apparently there was a mandatory class at the Torrey Pines Golf Course that Marty needed to attend. I officially rode in the golf cart and commented on his swing and enjoyed the beautiful view. This was where I first learned of the Magnolia Tree. They are huge, lush and they have large white flowers that smell amazing. I picked the flowers and enjoyed the fragrance throughout the entire round of golf, er, I mean CPA cert course. :)

Fast forward a few years...I am so excited when our friends ask us if we want their magnolia trees. They were re-doing their landscaping and didn't want them. Yay! We planted them in some large planters and I was excited for the fabulous flowers.

Fast forward to present time...we are getting rid of the magnolia trees. Here's why:

1. They are not huge and lush (okay, I know they would probably grow in time, but where we hastily planted them, they can not be huge, they will be in the way of the whole yard).

2. The flowers bloom and are gorgeous, but they wilt and turn brown within days of blooming. There is no endless days of enjoying the flowers and you have to stick your nose in them to smell them, they don't fill my yard with floral fragrance.

3. They are messy. The leaves drop. The dry brown what used to be petals drop. The middle of the bud drops (looks like mini pine cones). All the little insides of the flower bits drop. Half the tree is on the ground most of the year.

4. The undersides of the leaves are brown, not green. So it looks half dead all the time.

5. We apparently don't have the proper know how for magnolia trees. And we don't really care to take the time and effort to learn.

So, we will get rid of them. I swear those trees know their fate though, they sure are doing a good job of temping me with those beautiful flowers the past week.

Silly pics

Brinley just hanging out in the plastic tub

Chelsea saying "Eeeee" after eating ice cream (not great quality pic)