For Family Home Evening this week we thought it would be fun to build a bird house and talk about all the beautiful creations of our Heavenly Father. Scott had more fun rummaging through the garage then anything else, but it turned out pretty cute!

This is why Hailey is forbidden from getting bubbles in her bathtub! This girl wants to eat anything and everything! Last night she was getting mad because Kevin wouldn't give her any of his taco. She tolerates her baby food, but she really pitches fits over our food. I told Kevin that I don't think she'll be nearly as picky an eater as Scott... I can't believe she'll be 8 months old in just a week! Scott squeezed her and said, "Hailey is just like a marshmellow, isn't she?" We met Mel and the boys at a park this week for play date and they had what Scott called "the spiderweb" I don't think I'm quite ready for broken bones yet- help!
He would climb up to the top...And then fall through so he could hang with his arms... he really didn't want to play with anything else!Well I thought I'd post one more time before we go on vacation! We are taking a dreaded 12 hour drive to California for a much needed summer vacation. I guess you could call it a family reunion for my family-they've gone every year. This is the first year that Kevin has been able to join me! I'm so excited to spend a whole week with him! Wish us luck on the long long long road trip!

This is the happy face I get to wake up to each morning...and even though 6 is a little too early for me, it's worth it!

This week has been pretty easy going. We've been going to the pool one night every week, and this week we went twice. We let the kids swim their hearts out from 6-8 and then they crash into bed when we get home. We love it. There is nothing in the world Hailey loves more than the water! She goes nuts! As soon as she even hears the tub filling up she books it down the hall screaming. She loves splashing and kicking too-no matter how wet it gets her. Scott is getting so confident in the water finally, and he's even begging Kevin to take him down the water slide again and again.

Hailey didn't make it long...I took off her suit and set her in her car seat so I could dig for a diaper and by the time I got to her she was out, naked and all...

This was last Sunday. I had a bow on her head to match this cute dress Brooke bought her, but she just rips them right off- why bother! She's also starting to stand on her own for a few seconds at a time. I think she just knows she needs to catch up to Scott quickly so she can hold her own. Anytime she is holding onto something for balance Scott will take it away and she'll fall... Watch out Scott- she'll be walking soon!

Hailey's drinking from a sippy! Big Girl!

I wish I could get inside this intuitive toddler's mind! His imagination is amazing! Today he hooked two brooms together really tall and said it was his beanstalk. He also carries around a little domino against his ear and talks on it like it's a cellphone. It's always, "Hey Chris how are you doing? This is Scott...are you working? That's good. I'm good" It's pretty cute. When we were painting the other day I told him to draw himself and he drew several scibbles and circles on the paper pointing out each one, "Here's my brain, here's my heart..." He also figured out all of the child proof tabs on our kitchen cabinets last week, "Look dad you just slide your finger in here and press down"

I can't believe how fast Scott is growing, but then today as we were all walking along the river, I pointed out to Kevin how small he looks out on this trail. He was just running along the path holding his stick. I wish I knew where he got his energy! I could use some of it!Kevin and I found this video one night when we were looking through some old pictures and videos (and getting really depressed might I add). We thought it would be fun to share...Scott is about 11 months old in this video.

Six Random Facts About Me!

So I usually don't do these tags, but since it came from a great blogger buddy of mine Libby, I just had to oblige! Here are six random facts about me:

I have never had to wear braces or glasses (Kevin has had both, so our children have a 50/50 chance!)

My family was in a car accident when my mom was about 7 1/2 months pregnant with me! On Valentine's day they hit black ice and their truck flipped onto the hood. Everyone was safe, but I blame that accident for being born with a crooked foot-I had to wear a cast as a baby to straighten it out! That was my first of 3 casts on my leg due to the fact below...

I played soccer all through Junior High and High School and miss it more than I pretend! I'm crazy jealous of my sister Brooke who is the team captain of her college team! She's awesome!

My husband was the first and only guy I kissed in college! (I don't think he can say the same about me though...)

I love to cook. Our first year of marriage consisted of spaghetti or chicken and rice until I took a few cooking classes in college and mustered up some confidence.

I graduated from college 3 days before I had Scott. My degree is in Home and Family Consumer Science Education (the new and improved home economics). Just imagine being 9 months pregnant teaching high school students in a room with 9 piping hot ovens! Ahhh!! One time I'll never forget was one day when the kids were really loud and crazy I just stood in front of the class with my arms crossed and a girl got up and said, "Everyone shut up! You are stressing out the baby!" It was so funny!

On to the tagging: Feel free to accept or ignore, but if you accept, here are the rules:Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on the blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six people at the end of your post.

My sister Candice, cousins Lynsie and Heather, highschool friends Darci and Kari, and my sister in-law Kelli

Scott's Suprise from Dad!

I need to send Kevin to the store more often! He went to Walmart to get their cheapest toddler bike ($32) and he came home with this awesome "dirt bike" toddler bike! He talked the guy into buying the floor model for $20 when it costs $80 in the box! Crazy! Scott is obviously in love!Tell me this isn't the cutest, okay coolest bike ever!?While I ran outside (like 2 min) to see the new bike, Hailey managed to grab a hold of the bowl with all her cereal in it- She looks pretty satisfied-look at her fist of food!Hailey has mastered crawling!

Here's a better shot of her teeth! I love this picture because it really shows off her fun personality!Here's how Hailey eats every day- Scott use to do the same thing!

Trip to Idaho

One accomplishment I am glad is done and over with is getting my Bachelors degree, but I would almost do it over just to be near my grandparents again. We visited my grandparents every summer growing up, but that was never enough! I always knew I wanted to go to Idaho for college and didn't apply anywhere else! I have so many great memories of those 4 years. I went to my grandma Lill's almost every week to do my laundry, and since my mom wasn't close by, my grandma was the one who got to go through my whole pregnancy with Scott with me. That was a big bonding experience. Now that we moved I have really really missed seeing my grandparents! I called up my road trip buddy Brooke, and we drove up to Idaho to visit for a few days. It's only a 3 hour drive...we should do it more often!

Me and Grandma Lill (my mom's mom)

This is the famous drawer at the Rydalch home. The cabinetry has changed a little, but this drawer at the end of the hall has always been full of toys as long as I can remember!

I managed to find this one of Scott when he was 10 months old to compare...

We are so lucky because our grandmas are friends and only live a mile away from each other! So I brought my foot bath and thought it would be fun for Brooke and I to give our grandmas pedicures! Brooke went and picked up Grandma Rosie and we had our little afternoon of pampering while the kids were napping. Grandma Lill (mom's mom) on the left and Grandma Rosie (dad's mom) on the right. I did the soaking, scrubbing and clipping and Brooke did the massaging and painting. Neither of them have ever had pedicures!

Grandma Rosie was so happy and says she has never had her feet rubbed! Come on grandpa-not even before the 10 kids? Haha

I love this picture of Grandma Lill with the paper between her painted toes and nail file in hand. So cute! I'm so glad we decided to do this, and I know it will be a permanent memory that I will never forget! (Brooke either since she has a foot phobia! Haha)

Of course later that night I had to get it out again so that Scott and my cousin Amanda could get in on the action. (Scott needs a brother to play with!)

I took this picture to try to capture how beautiful it is up in Idaho. This is my ultimate favorite and most peaceful place to be. Anytime I was having a hard time with school, roommates or feeling homesick, I would drive out to Grandma Lill's...the most peaceful place on earth really!

Grandma Lill pushing Scott on the tire swing.
Grandpa LaVall helping Scott ride this little trike (yes it's another pink bike!)

They also live right by the sand-dunes and my little cousin Amanda drives around this go cart! Kevin is always saying he is going to build one for Scott when he gets older- I think he's ready dad, what do you think?! I left my camera when we went to Grandma Rosie's house, but we also got to visit with my Aunt Becky and cousins Amy and Noami! It was fun. Scott has always been afraid of my Grandpa Clair because of his really long beard! When we went over to say goodbye to them I told Scott in the car that he had to just run up to him and give him a great big hug. With lots of persuading, he did just that. Grandpa lifted him up and kept telling Scott, "Squeeze tighter! Tighter! Give me a bear hug!" Scott loved it! Then when he went into the house to use the bathroom he kept saying, "I LOVE Grandpa Clair!" It was cute! A perfect ending to a fun two days!

While we were there Hailey's second tooth came in! She got her first one last week. If you look closely on the bottom you might be able to see the two shiners! If not, her wet tummy is proof of all the hard working drool it takes to make a tooth!Last night Scott begged me to play with my mixer while I fixed dinner so he got to use some of the spices I never use along with some flour. Kevin and I were talking for a minute in the other room and I came back to this....Looks like fun!
My two little trouble makers! Scott got this piano for his first Christmas from Grandma and Hailey can't get enough of it! It is by far her favorite toy! There is no way she is waiting until a year to walk! I hope she isn't like my sister Brooke and walking at 9 months! My guess is 10 or 11. She is determined though!

4th of July Fun!

Happy 4th! And yes, Hailey is always this happy!

It was so great to go to a good old 4th of July parade! Scott was loving the candy tossing and of course getting to enjoy the show with his 2 best buds - Walker and Jackson.

Hailey didn't budge after Kevin sat her in Scott's small camping chair. She could have entertained herself all day in it!

After the parade and a pathetic attempt at naps (who wants to nap after that much candy?) we drove up to a place called Monte Cristo and went camping! I would have loved to stay for a few days, but we figured we'd test the waters since this was our first camp trip with both the kids. We love to camp and had a blast even though we didn't get much sleep (Scott was crammed against Kevin and Hailey's playpen was nestled into my side) It was a lot of fun! Scott even slept in until 7:30 and when he woke up he shouted "I finally went camping!" It was so cute. He's been camping about 3 times, but now every time I ask him what he would like to do for the day he says, "lets go camping!"

It was great to spend time with my hubby too!

Scott devouring a marshmallow

Hailey in Scott's jacket in attempt to keep mosquitoes off her sweet skin!

Scott has been going through the "ask a thousand questions" stage right now and I'm trying to just answer each question politely. I remember when my nephew TJ went through this stage (the infamous "but why") and about drove me nuts, but my sister-in law Kelli just answered each of his questions as sweet as can be. I'm going to try my best Kelli! Today he said, "mom what's your real name?" and I said, "Nicole" and then he said, "Nicole, what things do you like to do?" I thought it was pretty cute! It's only 2 pm though and he's asked me about 15 times what I like to do. I try to answer differently each time to keep it interesting.
Changing subjects- Kevin and I have a bet of not eating any sweets! After accidentally popping a piece of taffy into my mouth during the parade, and then spitting it out telling Kevin it doesn't count unless you digest it, I'm about ready to just throw in the towel and hand over his prize money. A month is just too long without sugar- I can't take it any longer!

Scott Is Back!

Scott had his first few days away from home! He stayed in Vegas with grandpa and grandma by himself for a few extra days, and then my mom drove him home on her way to Idaho. It was pretty quiet around here without him, but even still we missed his cute personality! It sure would be boring without a stubborn active toddler running around.

While he was in Vegas my mom took him to a cat and dog show down on the strip. It's basically like a small circus with dogs and cats doing different tricks. He thought it was pretty fun and kept saying, "They were being silly!" He spent a day with grandpa working on tools and then they went to see the movie "Wally" just the two of them. I'm sure he missed us (I'm saying that to make myself feel better) but every time I talked to him on the phone he would drop it to run and go do something else. He sure is a busy kid!

So now he's back and I'm trying to keep up with all the entertainment he had on our trip! One thing he wasn't expecting was to come home to a crawling sister who won't stay out of his stuff...it's pretty funny.

Yesterday Scott put on some of Kevin's cologne and I told him, "You smell like daddy" and Scott said, "Yeah, dad is a man too like me.....you look like a man too" Thanks a lot Scott.