Ready... Set... Smore!

I am getting anxious for tomorrow! We are taking both girls camping for 2 nights.

That is like a walk to the park for my family growing up. If you know my dad, nothing short of 50 miles or 5 days in the snow is a real adventure. When we get to our campsite there will be electricity, water, and we will bring our own food. We have a tent, but we also have an air mattress.

And we have these:

Delicious.

Now I am off to finish packing. I will do a full recap when I get home!

Wish us luck.

Funky Vintage Kitchen

I am a big fan of my friend April and her Funky Vintage Kitchen website.

I really really really want those grey or turquoise earrings. I wear my yellow ones almost daily.

So hopefully I will win! I like it when she makes her husband pick a number instead of Random.org

Tutu Cute

Cara found a Tutu that was made for her by a sweet friend of mine. It was a baby shower gift and she hasn't really shown interest in wearing it.

Something must have registered in her mind that a tutu is girly. This pink tutu would make her feel like a princess.

Once I put it on I knew I needed to take some pictures. I found her petting the pink pony. What is my girls and their obsession with ponies?

She must have been feeling extra special because she gave me an extra special smile.

Maybe she was just really happy because her molar finally cut through and she probably wasn't hurting anymore.

Min- knock- EEEE- ers

The underside of Ryann's tongue is pretty amazing. I wonder if all these vessels are what causes her speech issues. Haha. That was me being silly. Because it looks like a normal tongue to me- she just likes to not use it the way she is supposed to.

This was a self picture by the way. Pretty talented for not trying at all. She must be a natural.

Back to the title of the post. Min Knock EEEE ers. I think I have broken down how Ryann actually says "binoculars" Pretty cute to listen to.

These are the "diego binoculars" that my mom sent for Ryann. Ryann loves looking through them and exploring. She has looked at bugs, faces, feet, carpet, ponies, and everything else in between. Wait... not food. I haven't seen her sit at the table with them yet.

Maybe tomorrow.

Or I will just keep them away from my food. I am not sure I want to know what it looks like under the binoculars.

Wee Wee Wee

"wee wee wee" is what Cara says over and over and over again when she plays on our brand new (to us!) swingset!

This was the fun event we had going on yesterday. We took this beauty apart at it's old residence and then had to haul it over to our house and then set it up again in our yard.

It is big and it is grand. Now when the girls ride their bikes around our little back yard path they are able to go under the tunnel. Cara hasn't figured out how to get up to the slide by herself- so she already has a couple bruises to prove it.

Another hazard is when the kids are swinging and riding a trike at the same time. Because that will result in some accidents. You see, our backyard isn't big enough... so we improvised. Those children who aren't smart enough to avoid the swings when riding on the bike path, might just get hit.

Maybe I should increase the amount our home owners insurance covers? Just in case?

But don't worry- we still have plenty of room for our annual pumpkin carving event.

Held this year- Saturday, October 30th at 10am. Come join us for some fun!

Saturday is a special day

I have a love/hate relationship with Saturdays. If you don't have something planned for the girls, then the day is too long. But then if you stay out too late, they don't nap well.

Today was a good Saturday. Tomorrow I will post a big surprise about our Saturday morning, but for now you get this gross picture.

Gogurt on the bathtub from last week- that I finally got around to cleaning this week.

This is the real Hate part of the love/hate relationship. Cleaning. Saturday cleaning is always put off as long as possible. But it has to get done. Laundry, bathroom, kitchen, grocery shopping... the list goes on and on and on.

But you know what? I am glad for this little break of taking call from births. I am able to have Saturdays. So no matter what amount of cleaning I am doing on Saturday, I am thankful that I have a Saturday I am not working and that I can spend with my girls and hubby.

PS- did you know that Rich is AMAZING at cleaning? Not that he likes to do it- he just does a really good job.

Happy Birthday Erin

Happy Birthday Sister. Happy birthday to my LAWYER sister.

(I am kind of a proud sister!)

She is a beauty. Inside and Out. When Erin watched my Ryann be born something changed. She became this amazing sister who had such a pure love for her family. I am not really sure if the birth is what triggered the importance of family to her, or maybe it was only after I became a mother that I noticed her love. She is so anxious to spend more time with her nieces and nephews, as well as her siblings.

Erin is brave. She moved across the country to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. She is spending the next year helping with a non profit organization dealing with breast cancer and breast cancer prevention. I am so thankful for the work that she will be doing to help these women and families.

She is also my therapist. Hopefully she doesn't start billing me, but this past year I have been through a lot of struggles with my job and Erin was always there to listen and remind me that it will all work out. She admitted later that she had no idea if it really would work out- so thankfully it did and I can also say that my sister is honest.

I am so thankful for being so close to my sister Erin. Not just in age, but in all parts of our life. She always makes me smile when we talk on the phone. She just gets me. I don't know a better way to say it, but I am thankful for her in my life. I know that she will be my sister forever and ever and I am grateful for that.

Dancing Machine

We love Dance parties at our house. I am sure I have mentioned this.

Take a look at the video and you will see some of my neighbors who also like to have dance parties at their house!

Pretty Awesome

Pigs Fly

I never thought I would see my husband wear a pink shirt.

He claims it was because it was a $3.50 shirt. I think that is just an excuse. Now that he is trim and fit he wants to be trendy. Haha. But not really. Maybe because I snuck it in the cart at target and then wouldn't do laundry until that was all he had left to wear.

I LOVE my sweet husband!

Stylist Anyone?

Ryann trying to curl her hair. She actually asked me if I could make it hot for her.

I think not.

Besides, it is going to be a sad day when I inform her that curl will not hold in her hair.

Auntie Devyn has tried. Multiple times.

That girl has stick straight hair.

Cara on the other hand has a little curl going on with the back of her mullet. I think it will be straight in the front and wavy in the back. Woe for her. Maybe it will be in style when she is a teenager- straight and wavvy? I would be so cool if that were true. I would never have to buy a straightener again.

Oh yeah- and Cara is holding an eyelash curler. It will not be a sad day for Cara when I let her know that she does not have to use an eyelash curler. Those eyelashes go on forever.

Happy Birthday Devyn

I was thinking about how I probably didn't need to post a "happy birthday" post for my little sister Devyn, because I figured I had posted one every year on the blog. Well, guess what? I have never posted a birthday post for her.

I know I have posted about her, but seriously- No birthday post?

I don't know where to start with Devyn.

Devyn is the most selfless and giving of anyone in my family. It is true. It also probably lets her get stepped on occasionally and be hurt by others. Not that she gets hurt often- because who could ever not be sweet to Devyn? But if someone hurts Devyn you better watch out for the rest of the Wagner family- because that is not okay to do to our Devyn.

She is giving. She will do anything for those she loves. She will do anything for someone who knows someone she loves. Once you know Devyn, you can count on her for the rest of your life. She will never forget you. She will never mean to hurt you. She will always stand

up for you. She is loyal. Just when you need someone the most- Devyn is there.

I have seen Devyn go through a lot. I have seen her grow and develop and mature. She looks for the best in everything. When I am having a bad day, or fighting with the hubby, or things are going my way... I call Devyn. She listens. She cares.

Devyn used to always go to her sisters for advice. ALWAYS. From a boy to date, a dress to wear, a college class to take, to a life changing decision. She doesn't do that anymore. We are the ones who call her. We call to ask advice. We call to be reassured that things will work out and be okay. Today I really feel she has grown to be the silent leader in our family. She encourages us all to be our best, to think of each other, and to always write our missionary :) Not only my immediate family, but my cousins and extended family who live close to her in Utah.

These pictures of Devyn are some of my favorites. The first one is of her nursing scrubs. It reminds me how motivated and driven Devyn is to get where she wants to be in life. Whatever she decides to do, she will get there. The second one is of her and NieNie . Devyn doesn't care who you are or what you look like- she will always be your friend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEVYN!

Ping Pong Champion

Muscles (Rich) over here won the 1st Annual Foothills Ward Ping Pong Championship!

Last night was a "fiesta" at our church. It was a blast. Then Rich told me he signed up for the ping pong tournament. I gave him no words of encouragement before he ran off to play, probably because that meant he was leaving me alone with the girls.

And because I had no idea he could really play ping pong.

Surprise! I guess he can play ping pong.

He was undefeated.

He won a trophy.

(he beat our bishop too!)

He wore his "no hablo ingles" shirt in honor of the fiesta.

It was amazing. Pinatas, ping pong, ice blocking, Cafe Rio style dinner, music, and dancing.

Ryann did a lot of dancing. Maybe I will post a video tomorrow.

Mustachios

Uncle Cory would be proud.

Every year my brother spends a month growing out a mustache. He does this for the annual Mustachios event that is held in Napa, CA. It has turned into quite a charitable event. They have different categories and there are winners based on each mustache. Here is an old newspaper article about them http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_10eb7f58-30a3-57c0-ac21-547b563e79e0.html

Growing Up

This picture hits me hard that my little Cara is growing up. The sweet baby, who would rather cuddle than anything else in the world, is no more.

Not entirely no more.

This girl still cuddles like no ones business.

She is always up for snuggling.

Back to my original thought.

Here she is, toys everywhere, sitting on her little rocking horse that she got onto all by herself, watching TV. As if the TV hasn't been on her entire life.

Now all she needs is some more teeth and she will be ready for the real world.

Maybe some big girl panties too.

I think all blogging mommy's have a post like this every so often. That one about how all of the sudden their baby is so grown up. I never told myself I wouldn't do it. I just never thought about it until now.

Stats

There is a new feature on blogger. It is called "Stats." Have you seen it? It is probably not the best thing for me. Why? Because now I know that people actually read my blog?!?! So not just Auntie Erin or Grandma. People read my blog. And lots! Well, lots for a little old blog like mine.

Does that mean I need to become more creative? Or entertaining? Maybe not show so many horrible pictures? Maybe I need a better camera? Haha. Yeah right. That is not going to happen with me working part time ;)

And now that information is out of the way I can post my favorite pictures! This is when we were in Napa. Cara and Addie girl were given cupcakes made by my wonderful cousin. Obviously they (the cupcakes) were quite delicious.

And messy. Thankfully Cara didn't spread that mess into her hair. Her crazy hair couldn't have taken much more this day.

Little Jailbird Addie is loving life!

Thanks Judy for posting the cute pictures!

Hiking

I have started hiking every morning at 5:30 am. I am through with week #1. Guess what? I love it! I am exhausted, but I go with some new friends and there is always lots to talk about.

What else is really fun is my cute girls RUNNING to see me every morning when I get home and cuddling with me. (even when I smell bad!)

Fortune Cookie

Ryann pulled this out of her fortune cookie today. There is no doubt in my mind that she is achieve greatness.

I mean, after all, how could she not? She is my daughter.

;)

*ps* I thought about making this a really sweet post about how amazing she is to me... but I thought this way was a little more my style

How do you do it?

How do you photograph a toddler? Not just any toddler... Ryann!? She is so busy and hates to stay still and is not very photogenic. The cute girl got her mommy's smile (which my little sister Erin used to tell me it was like a growl instead of a smile).

Poor girl- she has at least 100 horrible/ hysterical pictures for every good picture I take.

Eyes closed.

Yelling at mom.

Cheesy grin, looking at the sky

Rolling her eyes with hands on her hip. Seriously.

DINOSAURS

Since Ryann's obsession with dinosaurs, I decided to stop on our way to California at the big dinosaurs. She loved it! All the kids ran around and around and they really didn't want to get back in the car. We tried to take a little picture. Very unsuccessfully.

But Ryann took one later on with another dino.

I am going to send this bottom one to my brother Zach. I think he will like it.

Duck Pond

Here are some more pictures of the duck pond from Napa.

Ryann dressed herself that day.

A few of my favorite things

I have the sound of music stuck in my head... so I am internally thinking of a song that starts with "iPods and ponies and silkies and blankies... Guy Guy and juice and long bedtime stories"

Our favorite things could go on forever!

What are your favorite things at your house?

Billy Goat

When in Napa we went back to the farm where there was a duck that bit Ryann. She stayed far away from the ducks this time... but she was having a blast laughing at the goats.

One was eating some old newspaper and she just thought it was the best part of the day.

I. Said. STOP.

Cara was so done with me trying to take pictures of her funny mohawk. She actually got really crabby and annoyed with me. Oh what will I do the day she goes to prom? Probably send her out the door and not go take pictures. haha. yeah right. :)

Stop Mom.

Seriously? You are still taking pictures?

I. Said. STOP.

Grandma said what?

Grandma said she was "up to her ears with grandkids"

But we all missed baby Dean terribly while we were in town. Maybe if he had been there she would have been "up to her eyeballs" in grandkids.

While we were in Napa my brother, his wife, and baby were out of town. We were really sad to miss them. Usually when we come to town there are tons of family around. This time it was pretty quiet with only my parents, sister (and family), 2 aunts, 2 uncles, 2 grandparents, and 2 cousins.

I love having a big family!

Guess What?

My Nephew Ethan lost a tooth. Pretty big stuff over here.

He was also pretty excited to tell me today that he bumped his face on the table and it made one of his other teeth wiggly. Good luck with that one Ash!

Weekend Break

Have a great weekend- I am spending mine with my parents and family in Napa, CA.

Our drive yesterday was fabulous. I couldn't have done it without my friend Dani.

Pictures will come soon.

Hide Out

Ryann has a little hide-out. (it is behind the couch! Not very well hidden, but whatever) Occasionally she lets Cara come play, but usually that ends up with Cara getting stuck and starting to cry.

But I love this picture because it is just silly RyRy and she is so happy.

Olive

There were two olives on a table.

.

One olive wanted to take a look closer to the edge. He rolled over but couldn't stop so he ended up falling off the table.

.

The other olive rushed to the side of the table and yelled down at his fallen friend.

.

"Are you okay?" he yelled

"Ol- Live!!"

(I'll Live)

hehe