She's a smart, talking girl (and I love this picture!)

I just love this picture of Halle. It sort of sums up who is she to me right now...bright eyed, curious, beautiful, with a little mischief. What a doll. I think she took this pic herself. I also probably love this because it is the look she gives me everyday, all day when she is talking to me and telling me something important. She looks at me with those big, pretty eyes and raises her eyebrows and talks and talks and talks.

I have to laugh because I know I probably sound braggy when I talk about my kids, but I really think Halle is so smart! She is so social and started talking so young, and people are so amazed even now when they hear how much she talks and how she can carry on full on conversations. The funny part it, she has been literally talking this much since she was about 18 months old! She cracks me up. It so cute to hear such a little person saying so many things.

Here are a few things she said lately that I jotted down that made me smile:
"I growing every day!"
"That's not fair, Mommy!"

What amazes me is she doesn't just say words or jabber, she talks and actually draws conclusions on her own and says them while she's talking.

Here is a sample conversation we had the other day that shows what I am talking about:
The other morning Luke woke up sick and throwing up. When I went in to get Halle out of her crib and was changing her diaper I told her Luke was sick and had a tummy ache.
She said, "Uh oh, Mommy. Lukey sick?"
I responded, "Yes, he's sick."
She replied back, "Oh, poor Lukey. You better get him some medicine, Mommy, to make him feel better!"
I said, "Okay, that's a good idea to get him some medicine."
Then she replied, "I used my imagination, Mommy!"

(The kids watch Barney a lot and there is lots of talk about imagination on Barney). But from that conversation, I was amazed that she could come up with that Luke needed medicine because he was sick AND that her thinking of that was using her imagination/mind. And she is only just barely two years old! What a smart little thing. Yes, my kids are the smartest! :) You are so smart Halle girl and so talented and Mommy loves you so much!

Family pictures

Singing time performance

I signed the kids up for a little community "singing time" class at the beginning of the year. Luke was going through a little shy spell and I thought it might be good to have him do something with other kids to prepare him to start preschool this fall. He has loved the singing time class and it has been really good for him. It's basically just a little toddler time class. They get to pick songs off the board, the same songs every time, and learn little actions or have little props to go along with the songs. It's been a lot of fun. At first Luke was a little shy and didn't even want to go pick a song off the song board, but now he loves it and gets so excited about the songs and isn't shy at all. His favorite songs to do are the Fire Truck song and the Grand Old Flag song where they get to wave around flags as they sing.

Technically kids are supposed to be two years old to be in the class, but Halle would get right into the songs and actions when I would take her along to watch the class with me so the teacher finally said that I could just sign her up, even though she was only 1 1/2 at the time.  It was really funny because she picked up on the songs and actions so quick! She is such an early talker and can sing along with the songs even better than a lot of the kids that are older than her in it! She gets really into it, it's really cute. Both of them have a great time doing it.

The teacher asked if the kids in the class could come to a little performance at a little fair Riverton City was having last Saturday. They basically did a little sample class up on stage so people could watch and see what the class is all about.

The kids had lots of fun doing it and it was fun seeing them up there performing. Grandma Lori, Grandpa Sheldon and Aunt Jamie came, and Grandpa Dave and Grandma Dixie were also in town so they came along with Aunt Jamie (Booie) and Uncle Kyle. I think our little group of supporters probably took up half the audience!

Halle is by far the smallest/youngest kid in the class, but she definitely knows her stuff, so it was super cute watching her, this little girl, up there singing and doing all the actions right along with the bigger kids with all the confidence in the world.

Luke did great too and has definitely gotten over his shyness. But he kept doing the most hilarious thing. Each time one of the songs would end and the crowd would begin clapping for the kids Luke would turn to the crowd, and with a very serious look on his face, yell out, "Calm down everyone!" At first I had no idea what he was saying, but he kept saying it over and over, and I soon realized what he was doing. It was so darn funny, all of us were cracking up. But Luke was completely serious. He kept saying "Calm down everyone!" each time a song was over, and he would say it over and over until everyone would stop clapping. At first I think everyone else in the audience was a little confused at what he was saying like we were, but by the end everyone was laughing out loud and thought it was hilarious. It was really so cute. I don't think he's ever experienced clapping or an audience before. Afterward we explained to him that that's what people do to show they liked the performance, they clap. Then it seemed to make sense to him. Oh boy. What a funny guy.

Snowman in September

 Today Luke and Halle made a "snowman" out of towels. They even found things to make eyes, nose, mouth and buttons. Afterwards, Halle was a tired girl.

Halle's cheesy smile

Lately when we ask Halle to smile this is what she does. She is such a funny, delightful little girl.

Enjoying the last bit of summer

We've been trying to enjoy the last bit of summer before the fall and colder weather kicks in. So we've been getting a little extra ice cream than usual, having some backyard picnics, and playing outside as much as possible.

Lately we've been on a little bit of an ice cream kick. Maybe it's me wanting to preserve the hint of summer and warm weather we still have left. Can't beat Arctic Circle chocolate dipped cones and mini courtesy cones for the kiddos.


Lately the kids have been into pretending to be airplanes. They love to run around the yard and "fly like airplanes".


The other day we we at my parents house and the kids plopped themselves out in the backyard on their little lawnchairs and Cory and Jamie broke these branches off the big sycamore tree so they would have their own little shade leaves. We thought it was so funny looking, these little kids looking like they are little royalty out there with their shaded leaves covering their sitting spots. The kids thought it was lots of fun, too.