Lilja meet sprinkler, sprinkler meet Lilja

Our friend JT is borrowing the slip and slide, so we used the sprinkler for some much needed water play.. we hit two stones in one throw.. getting Lilja wet and the poor scorched grass.. I think they both loved it!!
p.s this is a great way for mommy to work in the garden...I loved that...

Lilja meet hamburger, hamburger meet Lilja..

Lilja said "Hi deer", Daddy says:" Hi Hamburger"..

Aran bought his new target for Elk hunting this season.. yes, it is a deer, but same difference ;) (not really, I love elk meat way better)

But, hopefully Lilja does not get attached too much to this guy.

grasshopper meet Lilja, Lilja meet Grasshopper

It's pretty cool for daddy to be a biologist.. he likes to show me all different kinds of bugs.. Mommy just likes to stay behind the camera.. safe from a jumping grasshopper..

"Lilja making a circle"

What is more fun.... coloring on the ground or on Mommy??

watering the plants

watering the plants

I think Lilja is already showing some empathy for plants that are just shriveling up in this heat.. so she waters the plants . She was very serious in watering those plants..

Robin is Ellen Degeneres

Our friend Robin looks just like Ellen Degeneres.. so when we were trying to put sesamestreet on the TV, Ellen degeneres was on the channel.. Lilja stopped and started recognized "Robin" on the TV.. she had a great compromise.. Robin-Ellen!!

the first popsicle

It was pretty hot today and she is having some teeth come in so we had our first home-made popsicles...nice and cold.

Ssshhhtt don't tell Lilja it is a "orange juice, blueberry KALE, CARROT, and yogurt" popsicle..Lilja enjoyed it, Daddy not so much ;)

she is growing

I had to take care of a little boy on Friday and brought over our Slip and Slide.. The kids had so much fun.. JT is 4 and plays really sweetly with Lilja. JT was running around naked so I couldn't show pictures with him in it.. but they had a lot of fun..

Lilja is really starting to look like a toddler.. her torso is straightening out and her belly is getting leaner.. she is however still a little peanut..

p.s another tooth came out last night.. That's why this picture was so serious.. Hopefully this is the start of all the other ones coming through too.. I guess it is good that they are coming in so late..a dentist was telling me they are not as exposed as the earlier teeth.. Plus this time she could tell me she had an owee in her tooth and that she needed some medicine.. smart cookie!! Probably the only child that likes to take medicine ;)

the Bookstore in Torrey, Utah

Last year we found this cool Bookstore/coffee shop in Torrey with a wonderful yard to play in.. It was right across from our hotel this year.. Look at the view behind Lilja.

We were witnessing a girl finding her niche on stage.. She loved running back and forth
On Daddy's shoulders, she is getting the hang of it.. however, she still tries to hold on to his ears..

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This kitty-cat statue was Lilja's huggable friend..

Big hug...

Torrey, Utah

This is our second year going to Torrey Utah for the Capital Reef Bike Race. This year though we did it right.. we stayed at a cute little cabin with two bedrooms (Great night sleep) and with a kitchen.. Plus a great area and pool for Lilja to play in.. We will be back to the Austin's Chuckwagon Motel.


Lilja was pretty good at listening to stay on the porch.. Aran did three races. A timetrial in Friday morning a circuit Friday afternoon and a 80 mile road race on saturday morning.. He came in around 10th on each race.. Great job honey!! After the timetrial he had to ride out his legs a little so I had a good photo op as I could stand on the side of the road and just click away..

Waiting to start the circuit. Two rounds of 17 miles..

Coming in after the road race.. 80 miles and 4 hours later!!
This is the panoramic view of Capitol Reef. Just absolutely gorgeous..

Lilja in a time out...(she was not being safe) but don't be sad.. two seconds after this photo was taken, she called my name, smiled and waved at me .. when she knows she is in trouble that is what she does now.. (she does stay seated though, amazingly!) it is soooo hard not to laugh then.. we are in so much trouble.. !!

45 Years!!

Dear Mom and Dad, we will be traveling on your 45th Anniversary so we won't be able to talk , but I did want to acknowledge this important day.

You two are the model of an amazing marriage.. always loving, never angry, always respectful never condescending , always listening, never dismissive, always in love and always laughing. As a daughter I look up to the both of you. Mom, I look up to you as a mom, you have always been there for us, waiting with cookies when we got home, so we could just vent..... you always make me feel special and important. dad, you are a great listener and I value your opinion. Your talks and insight are invaluable. You are the rock of this family! Thank you for showing us what a great marriage is.. I love both of you and hope this day will be very special, i am sorry I can not be there this year.

Love, your oldest daughter, Nicole

just to make your day..

getting bigger..

Daddy found Lilja trying on his workboots yesterday.. She is really copying Aran with lots of gestures and now boots(?)

If you know her well... you can probably hear her sigh right now.. Like.. OK I did it..sigh....

The pool

Today Aran had the second half of the day off so we decided to go to the pool.. Lilja loves the water and I really want to have her learn how to swim.. Right now she is just fearless in the water and you really need to watch her. She is having a blast kicking, putting her legs in the air and splashing. Luckily our pool is one of the best I have seen with a great shallow section and a lazy pool.
I just can't help myself with the big smiles.. I love this girlie girl!!

In the lazy pool...Looking handsome honey.. but where is your smile??!!!

The pool also has an outside area, but we were pretty cold by then.. Lilja gave it a glance but did not get too excited for all that falling water..

Poor Maggie and Jack

Maggie and Jack went to the vet today and had their teeth cleaned, and two lumps removed (both on the same spot, right on the bottom of their chest).. the T-shirts are so they can not get to their staples.. How sad do they look??

this morning

Lilja was bright eyed and bushytailed this morning and was playing her own version of Peekaboo..

misc pictures from this weekend

The blog is a little messed up as we did so much this weekend. Just check out the next blogs.. here are some extra photos I really like.

Matt and his girls, Eleanor and Alice


Daddy and his girl..

Jacci and one of her pretty tired girls, Alice

And Greg and Joanne's girlie, Lillibeth.. and yes that's my tunnel from Tumbling Tots.. How did he get to my house??

Alice and her blue green eyes.. pretty!!

the water launchers..

It was going to be a hot day on the 4th, so I got the girls some water launchers.. You fill the tube with water and then push the end in and the water will spray out.. Never knew the competition was so intense!!

Lilja is contemplating who to get first..

The evil eye!!

But Lillibeth and Eleanor really got into it, even Aran at the end got soaked by these girls.

4th of July

After Jacci's race the girls went to the Bayfield parade.. I love living in a little town.. they seem to go all out for this particular parade.. The girls loved all the horses, but especially all the necklaces tat were being distributed. Eleanor made sure they all three got plenty of them

Finally a smiley picture of Lilja.. look at all those teeth.. all 5 of them.. she usually will try and see herself in the photo before the picture is taken..

Lillibeth , the daughter of Greg and Joanne also joined us on this day.. she looks so sweet, but when the water guns came out.. watch out!! see next post.

Pretty girl!!