Ronan DOES still exist.

Most of my last posts have been about Ruth and Gareth. Here's proof that Ronan still exists (and we LOVE him just as much!!!)

Gareth and Swimming Lessons

Gareth just finished his first session of swimming lessons!  Gareth is very, very timid when it comes to water (he HATES getting water in his face).  We're very proud of how well he did! By the end of the session, Gareth was able to blow bubbles in the water.  He's also great at the back float.  We've really been swimming a lot this summer and it's FUN!  Sorry the pics are so bad...I need to put batteries in my camera so I can use it instead of my phone....

Days of '47 Parade (the pansy version)

In the week before the Days of '47 Parade in Salt Lake City, they always put the floats on display at the expo center.  It's great because you get to see the floats without having to stand in the hot sun amidst millions and billions of people.  We had a great time this year.

Ruth LOVES getting her face painted.  I LOVE when the face painting boot says "FREE; tips accepted."  Because that means I don't HAVE to pay for it!

This is Ruth next to MY favorite float (princess themed).  I forgot to take a picture of her next to HER favorite (How to Train Your Dragon themed float)

Lost another one!

Ruth lost tooth number three today!  It's been loose for a while now and it was really starting to bug her so she asked me to pull it (which is very unusual for her...usually she runs away screaming if we mention pulling it).  I couldn't get a good grip on it but it was loose enough that I could get a toothpick underneath it and I was able to pry it up and it popped right off.  Too bad the tooth fairy is broke....

Our little girl is growing up way too fast...

Ruth has been riding a bike with training wheels for a couple of years now.  Last Friday she decided it was time to take the training wheels off.  Since Jonesy wasn't home, she asked her Grandpa to take them off and help her learn to ride without them.  About the time Grandpa got the training wheels off, Jonesy got home.  Ruth told Jones that Grandpa was going to teach her to ride a bike.  Jones said that he wanted to be the one to teach her.  Grandpa realized that since Ruth was his first child, Jones SHOULD be the one to teach her.  I said no, let Grandpa do it (I was anxious to leave...Jonesy was taking me out for my birthday).  Grandpa insisted that Jones do it, Jones said okay and we all felt good about the decision.  Then we looked around for Ruth and found her riding circles in the driveway all by herself.  Turns out she didn't need Jones OR Grandpa to teach her...all she needed was for someone to take those darned training wheels off.  We took a couple pictures (with my phone) and a video, gave her lots of hugs and kisses and sent her off on a bike ride with Ember and Grandpa.  We had to go to the later movie.

She's doing much better than this video portrays...but it was pretty funny.

BFFs

Ruth and Ember are BFFs.  Ember is two years older but they get along perfectly.  Here they are reading a book together.

Basketbabes

Just shootin' some hoops in the front yard.

Gareth: "This is going to give me a beard!"
Dad: "Why?"
Gareth: "Because it's Root Beard!"


Gareth also used to call 'macaroni and cheese' macaRONAN and cheese.  Silly kid.

How Silly

Sometimes I ask Ruth random questions.  Here was today's:

Mom: "Did you know you were born naked?!"

Ruth: "Of course!  God doesn't know how to stitch clothes, silly!"

Gareth is Awesome

Mom: "How high can you count, Gareth?"

Gareth: "That high!" (pointing to the ceiling)

This is the Place Heritage Park is Awesome

We went to This is the Place Heritage Park (right across from the Hogle Zoo in SLC) last Saturday for a HUGE family reunion.  Didn't get many pictures.  There was a cute little mechanical bull that Ruth got to ride.  She did pretty well; stayed on for about 15 seconds.

Then my dad got on....

...he stayed on for about 9 seconds.

They also had a really cool ship for Ruth to explore...

There were so many other things to do there too but the events of the reunion took up most of our time.  We'll be going back there soon and we'll be sure to get more pictures!

Summer is Awesome

We are really LOVING summer!  The kids love to play outside during the day and I love going out in the evening to work in the garden.  It's really nice that my parents have an awesome yard with a playground and a large open area for running around.  On really hot days we enjoy playing in the sprinklers.  Sometimes we even go swimming at the local pool.  Ruth is in the middle of two weeks of swimming lessons.  I don't know what we'll do when summer is over! 

We Are Awesome

We are awesome because we gave Ruth her nickname (monkey girl) before we even knew how much of a monkey she REALLY is. Climbing up this pole is not difficult for her.  Once she gets to the top, she just hangs out there looking as comfortable as can be. 

Sushi

Jonesy loves sushi.  I don't think we've mentioned that enough.  Just thought you should know.