Finally back to blogging and a lot to blog about!

I am back!!

I finally have some time now to blog. I have missed every one's blogs so much. I will start reading your blogs again. I don't think I can catch up on everything I have missed. I will do my best. 

Anyway, the last post I did was a month ago and I said I would only take a week off. Well, that week turned into a month. Moving was a lot of work and I didn't have the Internet for a while. When we moved it was unexpected and not planned.

This was the reason we moved!

This is what is inside that bottle. It is called a German cockroach. 

I know they are just bugs but to me they are one of my worst fears. I know in some states you have no choice but to have them but not in Utah. You only get them if you are dirty. Well, they had started to tear apart the apartment next to us to make a laundry room and I guess they hit a nest and they started to come into our apartment. They didn't spray correctly so we decided to move. 

It took us 3 weeks to move all our stuff because we thoroughly checked things and put things in bags instead of boxes. We opened up electronics, appliances and toys to be sure we didn't bring them. I washed everything that could be washed and I decide to keep track of how many loads of laundry I did. I did a grand total of 50 loads, no joke. I have to say it is nice to have a washer and a dryer now!

We moved into a house. We don't own it. We just rent it but it has been a lot of work getting it together. It is such a great house. I love living here. Of course there are a few things I don't like. I don't like wood paneling and most of the house has it but oh well, it is a house. 

Here goes the grand tour:

Starting with the inside.

Laundry room.

Kitchen.

I love that my stone wear dishes fit up on the top of the cabinets.

I love the bricks.

I love the kitchen. 

I don't mind the wood paneling in this room because it makes it look like a log cabin.

Here is the main bathroom.

Kurt's and my room.

Living room.

Living room again.

Ayla's room.

I love her room!

This is the master bedroom bathroom.

We put Kurt's dresser in there.

I loved what I put on top of the dresser.

This is the master bedroom but we turned it into the theater.

Now the yard needed some TLC.

My family and Kurt's mom came over and helped us clean it up. We filled a whole dumpster. 

Lane even helped.

Here is the before picture.

Here is the after picture.

Going around the house.

I just want to thank my family and Kurt's mom again for all their hard work.

I love family. I don't know what I would do without them.

Now I want to catch up on a few events that have happened.

1st, I hit my year anniversary of blogging on the 17th of July. Yeah me!!

Next Ayla turned 17 months.

She now weighs 21 pounds and is 31 3/4 inches long. She is getting so big but not big enough yet to fill her daddy's shoes.

Here are some of her firsts and accomplishments.

*She knows where her nose, belly and ears are.*

*She says "No" a lot now.*

*She knows how to make dog and cat noises.*

*She has learned how to push her bike forward, while she is on it.*

*She has learned how to color.*

*She went swimming for her first time.*

*She played with a hose and ran through the sprinklers for the first time.*

*She tries to count.*

*She signs for milk.*

*Her daddy took her to the zoo for her first time.*

*She can get up and off the couch.*

*She is getting better at stairs.*

Next:

It was my mother-in-law's birthday. 

Happy birthday Mom! I love you!

Next:

We had my family Lagoon day last Saturday. 

And yes, that is me on the Catupult (sling shot, that shoots you up 278 feet in the air at 4 G's) and Marion's boyfriend, Monty's nephew, Colton who rode it with me. Well, I rode it with him. He had gone on it earlier with Monty and wanted to go again but needed some one to ride it with him. 

I don't know what I was thinking. I thought I was done with extream rides, aparently not. It was a blast! So fun!!

My dad and my sister, Marion.

I love Lagoon!

Next:

Last but not least, our sweet little nephew, Kurt turned 1 on the 8th of this month. We will be celebrating it tomorrow. I made a cake. I will blog about it later.

Well, that is all floks. That should have you caught up with us. Now if I could get caught up with every one else. Wish me luck!!

It has been crazy!

I am sad to report that I will not be blogging for about another week. We have had some unexpected things come up and it is taking up all my time. We are moving. I will post about it later. Sorry I haven't been able to read your blogs. It makes me sad. I will try and catch up on them later. Right now I am so overwhelmed and all my time is being taken up by moving. I look forward to when we are finally settled and then I will be able to read your blogs. Take care until then!

Our 4th of July!!

I love the 4th of July. It is my second favorite holiday next to Christmas. I love my country and I am so grateful for the men and women who fight for our freedom and the freedom of others. I love the feeling I get that day. What a wonderful opportunity for us to focus on our country for a day.

We did a lot on the 4th. I want to share.

First of all, I made a cake for the occasion, of course.

I am sporting my new apron my mother-in-law bought me. She knows I love our country's flag and so she got it for me. I made the cake wearing it.

Here is a close up of the cake.

We started our day off by going to my sister, Marion's house and having breakfast with the fam.

Then we headed down to the parade.

Here is Ayla in her 4th of July outfit. 

I love getting her an outfit for the 4th of July. I just love the 4th of July!

Ayla with Aunt Marion waiting for the parade to start.

My best friend, Melissa came and joined us.

Melissa and I always hang out on the 4th of July. It has become a tradition with us.

Ayla was given a red balloon. She loved it!

Aunt Marion getting Ayla up close and personal.

It rained a little. See the rain spots?

After the parade, we headed off to swim.

This is the Taylorsville Rec. Pool.

It is the funnest pool in the valley I think. I love it there. This was were I last swam 2 years ago to the day. 

This was Ayla's first time swimming. Don't you love her swim suite? Grandma and Grandpa Perry got it for her.

Me holding her hand guiding her more into the water.

She had a lot of fun with her Aunt Marion that day.

Playing in the water.

I had to get a picture with her on her first day of swimming.

After swimming we all had a BBQ at Marion's house. That is wear we ate the cake I made. I didn't get pictures of the BBQ. I was lazy. Oh well!!

After the BBQ, we headed down to the park to watch the fireworks. They had rides there but Ayla is still too little for most of them. We did take her down the giant slide though, and she loved it.

Lane, Kurt and Ayla waiting for the fireworks to start. 

This was Ayla's first time seeing a firework show. I didn't take her last year because she was so little and didn't like loud noises.

Bright light!

Here is my dad waiting for the fireworks and of course my brother is giving him bunny ears.

And here is my brother giving himself bunny ears.

I loved the firework show. This is always the time I reflect on those who serve our country. I always get emotional because I feel the fireworks are to honor those  great men and women. This year they had the song, "I'm Proud To Be An American" playing in the background. It was beautiful!

I am so grateful to live in a country were I am free!

Water fun!!

Yesterday, while we were at Marion's, she got out the hose for Ayla and it was Ayla's first time playing with a hose. It was so fun and cute to watch her. I enjoy seeing her discover new things.

Below are some pictures and a couple of clips of the event.

Enjoy!