Little moments

I am trying to capture more of Anna's talents or should I say two year old creative moments. She comes up with the funniest things.

Decorating Daddy.

Getting ready for the park with her "too cool sunglasses" and "brown baby"

Making sure everyone is included in TV time.

Helping me "decorate her room" we still haven't gotten all the walls decorated so it stayed like this, until recently we moved a few of them. I love it. She organized them into families, mostly of color.

This is "the way" (I think that is what she called it)

Coming in from outside chalk art. I left it for days because I thought it was so cute. She will make "hand prints"(actually footprints) outside on the sidewalk, after walking in the wet grass.

She played with my doll ( I cannot remember the name) for days. This is how she organized them one day and gave them "cereal and tomatoes" or was it "pasta and tomatoes?" Wish I would have written it down.

Taking care of her baby (with much fondness) in her pink hat and ballet slippers. Such a girl!

Making book houses. I started this one day and it is now an almost weekly occurrence. If not on this scale she will make little ones for all her toys out of 3-4 books. She got all her babies and some animals to sleep in there and the front door is just under the table.

Helping me make cookies. She is all about lining things up or getting them to all be the same.

She found this "rake" in her sand toys, then later I found this display. She got out squeegee out of the tub. I left it for Dave, he came home and said, "It is so cute how she connects things." It's true I think she is a genius!

While making bead necklaces, she make up her own game with the lid. She called it "number 2."

Organization! Grouping similar things, found this display on the couch.

Bead time. She sat FOREVER doing this necklace.. then playing #2.

Being naked is an art form at our house. Well, not a family one, just an Anna one!

Making any hairdo work!

HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I LOVE THIS GIRL AND THIS AGE?

The Beach

My cousins told us about a great little beach just down from Laguna Beach. We had fun at the playground, doing the beach thing then exploring. It was SOOOO hot that day... the next day was record high heat in LA over 110 degrees! It was a gorgeous and relaxing afternoon! Then we went home and crashed early... Dave and Anna were out by 8:30!

And just for fun... again... ROCK ON!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Dave turns 29 today! I love this man so much (and have for almost 11 years!) He is truly amazing. Lately I have been amazed at his ability to balance: work, family, church calling, sports, downtime, bills, yard work, etc. He rarely complains- even when I know he is exhausted-and is willing to help me out whenever I need it. I learn so much from him and don't know what I would do without him. Happy Birthday Babe! You are simply incredible!

Anna woke us up early, which was a good thing because it got me out of bed to make chocolate chip pancakes and OJ. I think a great way to start a day! Anna said we needed a candle for his pan"cake." Tonight Dave and I will enjoy our first dinner date in a LONG time! I am excited!

PRIOR CELEBRATION...

On Sunday we had old (and new i.e. husbands & kids) friends over for dinner and birthday cake. I wanted something extra good and chocolatey... Yep, found it. I give you (with my food network narration) Devils food cake with fudge frosting and mint chocolate ice cream. Topped with icing made out of junior mints, chocolate chips, and an extra hint of mint flavoring. Oh and white chocolate for a little creative touch. Now the cake wasn't beautiful... I had too many ideas and not enough time, but it was DELICIOUS... and still will be for months!

We couldn't get the candles in the top, it was too frozen and the icing was too hard. Thank goodness Dave's birthday is in October. We got away with making it a little "spooky" or crazy however you what to refer to it.

Anna had a great time helping me and so did the rest of her body and her clothes! Who needs a towel. That would be a waste of good chocolate!

Inside... where the goodness lies...

The camera cannot do it justice and neither can a knife!

Disney, the other stuff (PART II)

As much as Disney is all about the Characters there was LOTS more to do. Classic Castle photo. Anna LOVED "Sleeping Beauty's Castle" did you know you can go inside of it and see scenes from sleeping beauty? We even got to see where the evil queen lives (in the dungeon where she made her spells) Anna keeps talking about that!

It was Halloween time at Disney...

These aren't the best photos, but you get the idea.

RIDES...

Anna has said that this was her favorite ride... see how excited Katelynn and Anna were to come tell us how it went? Ha! Dumbo... I actually got a little nauseated, dang prego stuff... but we had a Great time. The lines we fabulous. We highly recommend going in September. We averaged 15 minutes in lines (perhaps even less) Peter Pan was still a joke, but Anna LOVED it so it was worth it for her.
This was Anna's first roller coaster and she loved it. Katelynn loved the Matterhorn, so we took Anna on that next... perhaps she is a little too young, she was really scared, especially of the "snowman!" The rest of the day was spent telling her it wasn't scary... Katelynn took it upon herself to tell Anna as well! (:More parade photos. Or I should say "Dance party"

We were able to go to Disneyland because my fabulous cousin, (or second cousin or cousin once removed- whatever you want to call it) Whitney invited us. We had an annual tradition to go visit them in Northridge and then go to Disneyland. It was awesome. Now everyone is in Utah except us and James. Now I am a "California cousin"...weird! Katelynn and Anna had a great time together. They are "Cousin's twice removed" I think. Here Katelynn is telling Anna her philosophy on life or so it seems.

All three girls, Jeff I think you got a better photo. They were so cute together!

The infamous and annual photo... What a great day!