A break

The girls and I took a break from normalcy and went to to SLC with Dan for a work training.  We jumped at the chance to stay in a hotel and drive a rental car. All on Dan's work.

While Dan was in class, the girls and I visited my Grammy and my cousin Jill (who happened to just pull into town from Washington the night before!), her kids, and my Aunt Cindy.  It was so nice to catch up with Jill!  We hadn't seen each other in about oh, five years or so!  And Alayna loved playing with her cute kids!  

And of course, my kids adore my Grammy.  I mean, who doesn't love Grammy!?!

But I think if we were to ask Alayna, one of her absolute favorite things was to swim in the water park that was in or hotel.  This was the first time she really enjoyed swimming in the pool and did things on her own.  Such as going down the slide.  All.by.herself.  (I think we have swimming lessons to thank for that.)

Here's the proof of the fun that was had.

While Alayna really came into her own with regards to the water, Brylen did not.  I don't know why our kids are so afraid of the water.  She and I spent most of the time sitting at the edge of the pool/hot tub with our feet in the water.  

She insisted on wearing her towel the entire time and holding it up to her face.  She wouldn't even let us take the towel off of her when we tried to put her in the pool.  Silly girl.

On our last day, we did a little outlet shopping and met, Megan, my college roommate for lunch.  We figured out, we hadn't seen each other in 9 years!  That's just crazy!  It was so good to see her and catch up!  We definitely are going to have to do it again.  Especially now that she has moved close to where my Grandparents live.

It was a nice little break.  Sure glad we chose to go!

Sisters

These two cuties are the best of friends.  Well, as much as you can be when you are one and four.  I can only imagine the fun they will have once Brylen gets bigger.

They enjoy watching movies together.  

Doing chores together. (Brylen is such the helper...)

And they both love their daddy more than anything!  Yep.  We've got two Daddy's girls on our hands.  (I don't mind one bit.:)

Miss independent

This little missy has got some serious attitude sometimes.  We finally figured out that she seems to eat better when she is in charge.  She may get pretty messy, but at least she is content.

Here she is eating cereal by herself for the first time.

Yogurt sure tastes good!

We sure love our little miss independent!

New hair cut

Alayna has been practically begging me to get her hair cut short like her cousin Ashlyn.  For the first little while I didn't think she really wanted it cut.  But after about a month of her persistently asking, I finally gave in.  

Here's the before.

And the after.  

And a "funny" face just for good measure.

She was SO excited to get it cut and she looked at herself in the mirror about a bajillion times after.  I kid you not.  At the salon, she kept walking over to the mirror while Brylen and I were getting our hair cut and checking herself out.  

She still kept starring at herself in the mirror days after.  One time she came walking out of the bathroom a few days after she got her hair cut and I said, "Remember to wash your hands."  And she said, "I didn't go to the bathroom.  I was just looking at my hair in the mirror."

Silly girl.  

Vegas Zoo

While we were in Vegas we went to their small zoo.  And I mean small.  But the price was not bad and the kids still has a great time!  

You can even feed the ostriches.  

Dan braved it and fed them.

Brylen pretty much hung out with Trevon the whole time.  He was SO cute with her.  I think Brylen was getting a little tired by the end though.  What do you think?

Alayna was happy to oblige with some posed shots.  

Her and Paxton.  They were two peas in a pod.  So glad they got to hang out for a few days!

Vegas

As mentioned in a previous post, we spent a little time in Vegas at the end of March with Dan's family.

The girls did surprisingly well in the car for the 8+ hour drive.  It definitely was a nice surprise when we stopped in Scipio and there was a little petting zoo.  Llamas, Zebra, and all.  Alayna was so excited.  (She demanded we stop there on the way home as well.)

Happy to be out of the car.

Cute baby.  Enjoying the fresh air.

Get a load of those horns.

Here's Brylen taking a little break to drive the car in her jammies.  

As usual, I did a terrible job of picture taking while in Vegas.  It seems the wax museum was one of the few times I pulled out my camera.  But suffice it to say, we had a fabulous time in Vegas.  It was a much needed family vacation!

Now, a few pics from the wax museum.

While in Vegas, the kids decorated eggs, swam in the pool, played, played and um....played some more.  There is nothing like cousins!

  

bath time

Bath time is a favorite at our house.  

Especially when there are bubbles.  

And bubble beards.

Brylen's bubble beard.

And Layna's.

Apparently drinking your bath water is also fun.  Yuck.

But seriously, are these kids not just the cutest!?!

Seriously.  I die.  

(Don't let their cuteness fool you.  There is a lot of attitude that goes with the cute.)