So a while back we got to go to a football game with a family from our branch. They have 2 boys on the football team. We had a great time. This family is very similar to my family. They have 6 kids the oldest just younger than me and the youngest is a girl that is just older than Tiara. I was a sub in primary before I got my own primary class, and while I subbed I taught the two youngest of the Huge family. They are a lot of fun. Kaitlyn loved playing with Liz their teenage girl and her friend, she kept moving around and telling Liz and her friend were to sit. She is so bossy! I think it’s so great how all the youth in our branch really love the young kids and play with them. We really have a great branch. The only bad thing was it was SUPER hot. Poor Emily was getting too hot, so Ryan had to go and stand under the shade to help cool her down. Also they lost :( Apparently that was the first time they lost to that team in 20 years. That’s gotta suck.

Ryan and the girls at the game



Ryan had to go somewhere one night last month and I had the girls for the evening. Emily was in bed asleep so I decided to make a special date night for just me and Kaitlyn. I set up our tent in the family room and put some blankets and pillows and one of Kaitlyn’s many chairs inside. We popped some popcorn and snuggled in for a movie night together! She had so much fun helping me move the coffee table out and trying to figure out what mommy was doing. Then we got the tent up and she LOVED it! It was a nice evening, a good way for me to have fun and stop counting the minutes until Ryan got home.

Pictures from our living room adventure





Random fun pictures;

Kaitlyn loves sitting in Emily’s bouncy seat. This was before church (I love their matching shoes!)



Mom and Em



Mom and Kaitlyn reading together



Ryan trying to get pants on Kaitlyn



Kaitlyn’s done it. The thing I’ve been dreading but knew had to come sooner or later. She has learned how to move her chair places, climb up, and get into things. This morning she brought me my cell phone and a few other things I had put up so she couldn’t reach. I’m going to have to find a higher hiding spot!



About two weeks ago the town’s playgroup started back up and so the girls and I went. It is so nice to FINALLY have somewhere to go and meet moms and their kids. Kaitlyn has desperately needed some play time with kids. I went once when we first met here, but that was the last one for the summer and they just now started up again. The moms there have been so nice to me. One asked if she could stop by with some vegetables for us! I told her sure, but didn’t really think she would. The next morning she was there with a watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplant! Of coarse this was the one morning my children slept in, so we were all in our pj’s, except for Emily who was in her diaper. I was so glad to have someone come visit me that I didn’t even care. So I invited her in and they stayed and played for a couple of hours. YEAAAAA! It was so wonderful. I wouldn’t have thought to take a picture, but Kaitlyn likes to pose, and then point at the camera until I get it out and take one! So she set up this shot. Unfortunately she couldn’t sit still enough for a good picture, but here’s her and her friend Isabel.

Pikes Peak

Ryan found out about this really cool peak in Iowa, just across the Mississippi from where we go to church (Prairie Du Chen, about 45 mins from us). This is REALLY high up. I’m kinda afraid of hights, so I didn’t like going to the very edge even though there was a rail. Kaitlyn was fearless and absolutely loved it here! There were so many places to run and things to see.
The very edge of the peak- I was as far as I could go with out panicking and I had to hold Kaitlyn back



All of us on the peak, that’s the Mississippi behind us



The pictures don’t do it justice, it was so beautiful!
After we checked out the peak we let her play on the playground and then went down the trail to see the other sights.
It was a great trail we even saw a stick bug crawling around! I actually almost steped on it, until I realized it was a bug! I should have taken a picture, but I was too freaked out. Ryan loved it. After a while I realized it was pretty cool. It’s just pretty freaky when your about to put your foot down and a stick starts walking. This pretty waterfall was as far as we went on the trail. You could keep walking and go under it, but there’s no way with a toddler. If we weren’t there Ryan would have loved to go under the falls, but Kaitlyn is to much of a dare devil and would have wanted to follow.



There was a little trickle of water dripping here so Kaitlyn got to feel it and check it out.



Doesn’t Emily look impressed by the waterfall?



If anyone wants to go camping in Iowa near the Mississippi, give us a call. We'd love to camp there sometime. Maybe our family's would want to come up and visit, do some camping or something. Hint hint, wink wink!

Ryan is an official Lawyer!!! On Wednesday we drove up to Madison and he was sworn in (early yea!) in front of a Wisconsin supreme court judge. It was Ryan and one other guy. It was nice to have a small quick ceremony, so that the girls were able to come with us. It was a great day. I’m so proud of my husband. He has worked so hard to accomplish his goals. Go Ryan!!
This is Ryan soon after he opened his bar exams results. Doesn’t he look so happy!



The capitol building was so beautiful. I was very impressed. These are some pictures of us before the swearing in.
Ryan in front of the Supreme Court Room



Ryan being sworn in- By the way I was holding Kaitlyn in my lap rocking Emily in her car seat with my toes, video taping the swearing in with one hand, and took this picture with the other! I’m impressed with myself.



Ryan signing his name to the list of lawyers ever sworn in in Wisconsin, they have books from way back when, and everyone always signs after being sworn in



Our Family with the Justice that swore Ryan in. He has six kids, cool huh! And yes, Kaitlyn is on a cell phone. The marshal let her borrow it. She was very helpful with Kaitlyn who of course wanted to run around and make lots of noise.



Afterwards we went to the top of the building and they had an observation deck where you could walk around and enjoy the view of Madison. This is the stonework that was all around the dome at the top.



Here’s the view of Madison. Those are lakes in the background.




The Wisconsin state capitol has a very unique layout, I think. It kind of looks like + but at an angle and the center is big. I don’t know if that makes any sense but here’s a few pictures outside.




Also there was a protest going on while we were there, I thought that was kinda cool.

Afterwards we took the girls out to the (free!) zoo. It was really nice. It had been a long day so we were very worn out, but Kaitlyn loves animals so it was fun even though we were all tired.



A grizzly bear. Ryan didn’t think I should be friends with the bear, but he looks so cute! Hard to believe he can be very vicious. I’m glad we saw him in a good mood.



They have a children’s zoo inside the zoo that has a carousal and playground and more animals. Kaitlyn and I got to ride on the carousal .
Kaitlyn on her Cheetah.



I chose the Elephant right next to her.



Kaitlyn thought it was so cool to sit up on her Cheetah all by her self. Then the ride started! She looked pretty scared, but I wanted her to do it so I just reassured her. About half way though I got off and stood next to her, and she just wanted me to hold her. I made her stay on the cheetah and as soon as the ride stopped she signed more and didn’t want to get off. Too funny. So I THINK she enjoyed the ride. It was fun either way. I’m like a little kid. I love to ride the carousal, in fact I was a little sad to get off my Elephant and stand next to Kaitlyn. But, of coarse I did because I love her. This is sometime during the ride.



They had these cool animals that you could climb inside. This kangaroo, and also a cute turtle you could poke your head and arms out of, like you were wearing the turtle shell. My little Roo, Kaitlyn



We got in the car to drive home, and were just barely out of the parking lot when both girls were already asleep. It was a fun and eventful day in Madison. I got this cute shot of Kaitlyn sleeping. She was so tired!



After we got home and rested for a little while we went out to dinner to celebrate. It was so nice to not cook after such an eventful day! While we were there Emily sat in a high chair at a restaurant for the first time! She’s getting so big.




After that we walked to Ryan’s work so he could show me this!



Pretty cool! His name is now on the window. It looks like he’s always been there. I think it feels so much more official now. He also got his business cards in! We took some close up pictures, but Ryan doesn’t want people calling from Timbuktu so I won’t post those. This is him holding one though.



And his office. I’m pretending to be a client



Ryan behind his desk



That was one very eventful day! A 2 hour drive to Madison, a tour of the capitol, Ryan being sworn in (yea!), a trip to the zoo, 2 hour drive home, going out to dinner, and going to Ryan’s office. We all slept well that night. If only I could have my husband home during the week more often. What a fun day.

More fun Dalton adventures!

In Madison (2 hour drive) they have a FREE zoo! And, it’s not like the Logan free zoo which has pretty much no animals, this zoo was awesome! We loved it. We didn’t get to stay for long because it was sprinkling the whole time. I think because it was such a nice temp. outside all the animals were out and doing things. It was so cool. There were a few of these posted around to take pictures with. This is Kaitlyn and Ryan



And me and Kaitlyn



This was so cool there were two orangatanges (sp?) swinging around and having fun. Then all of a sudden we found out one was the mom and the other was her daughter. How? The daughter came up to the mom and started nursing. Crazy. She must have been a toddler because she ate like Kaitlyn (who does NOT nurse, she’s way to old!). She would come up to her mom take a couple sips and run off swinging around like crazy and then come back for more. In fact the more I watched the more I thought Kaitlyn is very much like a monkey. She would have loved to play in there, especially if she were able to swing around like a monkey.



Ah, the lions were the next exciting animal. When we got up there the two lions were snuggling, it was so cute! So I was telling Kaitlyn -aw look the lions love each other, isn’t that nice? Then the male decided he didn’t want to just cuddle anymore! I was so embarrassed! Ryan thought it was really cool, such a guy. The female turned him down, so the male staked off and started pacing around and grunting. It wasn’t a full lion roar, but it was pretty loud! Everyone came racing over to see what the lions were up too. I just had to laugh, the lion was pouting cause he didn’t get his way. Too funny. This picture was before, um everything.



Oh, did you notice I’m holding Kaitlyn and Emily and feeding Em a bottle all at the same time? Yes I know I’m supper talented. Plus it was only for a few seconds so I could get Ryan to take a picture.

Afterwards we drove around until we found a Chili’s for lunch. Kaitlyn was so funny during this lunch. There was a table behind us and she kept turning around and standing up to peek over the bench and hang out with the other table, especially when they got their food first! Every time the waiter would walk by with some ones’ food, she would start saying Thank you, and kept repeating it tell she got louder and louder and then, to her dismay he’d put the food on another table. I think she was really surprised that he didn’t turn and bring the food to her instead. I mean come on, she even said thank you!

After we finished eating we got up to go and she noticed a couple of teenage boys that were sitting near us. She walked strait up to them and stared at one of the boys until she had his attention and then smiled and waved. The table that was behind us that she’d been talking to before just started laughing. Ryan was just shaking his head and laughing too. We are in so much trouble with that little girl!

More random fun pictures

Ryan with a sleeping Emily



Emily’s first time rolling over! -August 19, exactly 4 months old



Went to check on sleeping Kaitlyn, this is what we found

While we were in Utah Ryan participated in the community summer band. He is a drummer and had a great time playing with them. When we got back there was one concert left. He wasn’t able to go to the practice the week before, because he was taking the bar, but they let him play anyway. Yay for us! It was so fun to see him get to play. He really misses his drums (they are in Vegas? I think). Before the concert started Ryan took Kaitlyn and showed her all the drums, she had a great time!



This is Ryan playing the cymbals.



Kaitlyn loved dancing to the music and entertaining the old ladies near us.



I have such a hot drummer husband!


Now a bunch of random pictures for your enjoyment.

Emily fell asleep in her jumper.



Emily sleeping on me.



My girls



She’s giving her a kiss, right?



Playing with sunglasses




Isn’t she so cute? I came in to check on her and this is how she was sleeping!



Kaitlyn loves to help mommy cook



Kaitlyn in Emily’s jumper, she’s so silly.