Down on Grandpa's Farm

We went to Grandpa Blatter's farm for a Memorial Day picnic. We had a lot of fun- the weather was good and we had a great time visiting with Matt's family and extended family.

Earlier in the day we met my parents and Cory at the cemetery where my Grandpa and Grandma Jensen are buried. It's always bittersweet for me to visit their graves- I am sad and miss them, but then I remember all the good times I was able to share with them. I know it's hard for my dad too, but I'm so glad we know that we will see them again someday.

Here are some of the highlights of our afternoon at the farm.

On the way Matt saw a snake in the middle of the road. I was in the back with Ashlyn so I didn't see it. He backed up and opened Rylee's door so we could all see it. Rylee was freaking out- I was ok as long as I was safe in the car. Rylee kept saying, "Shut the door, shut the door!" And of course, Matt was getting as close as he could!

This was before the big dog came and scared us all! (Rylee especially! I know- that's my girl!)

Crossing the bridge and playing at the creek

Here is Rylee petting the big dog that isn't really that mean and scary at all. Matt's cousin, Ryan was very good to show her how nice he is. (It took a while though!!) And Ashlyn just wanted Oma the whole time!

Matt took us for a walk down the road to the fish pond. We didn't see many fish. And Rylee was teasing me as I was trying to take her picture but I did get her!

Ashlyn loved the water and even washed her hands in it!

Playing with the other kids at the creek
(Hailey, Brady, and Brinlee)

Riding the 4-wheeler. I went on the ride too and the girls loved it! They were screaming with joy the whole way! Ashlyn wanted to drive when Matt and I got off! She knew how to turn the key on!

Here they are now- we had quite the day!
(That's how I can blog about all this so soon- naptime is great!)

All About Rylee

Our sharing time at church today was about learning about our ancestors and keeping a journal ourselves. So they gave all the children a paper for them to write a few things about themselves. At first the little ones were just going to draw something, but then another primary counselor thought it would be a good idea for all of them to fill it out at home. I thought it would be fun too to hear what Rylee has to say about herself. So I asked her these things and these are her answers. Some of the answers might seem a little strange, but we were still finishing up our dinner of chicken and pineapple. Matt told Rylee she should have been born in Hawaii because she likes pineapple so much. Then we told her that she went to Hawaii when she was Ashlyn's age and we told her all the things we did. So see if you can guess which ones were in reference to that!!

My name is: Rylee Blatter
I was born on: October 1, 2006 (actually she said October one)
My eyes are: blue
My hair is: brown
The people in my family are: Mom, Ashlyn, Daddy
My favorite food is: pineapple and chicken
I don't like to eat: pigs
My favorite color is: blue
My favorite candy is: chocolate (she said something else that I couldn't understand)
I am most happy when: I'm jumping on the tramp and swimming (I helped her a little on that)
I get scared when: I see sharks and tigers
When I grow up I want to be: Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl (yes, her exact words!)
I am really good at: drawing Mommy and Dad(and she is!)
I enjoy primary because: I like to draw names (I think she means writing her own name, but I'm not sure)
If I could visit one place on Earth it would be: the city, the temple (she said the city first and then I asked her what city and she said the temple)

We had talked about the ocean in Hawaii and she asked if we saw sharks, but we told her we didn't. So I think that's where that one came from. Then we told her about eating a pig at the luau (I don't know why!) so she said she didn't like those and they were yucky!

Anyway, it was fun to hear her answers!

Cheese!

Ashlyn loves to camera- not to pose, but to take pictures. She tries to get my camera all of the time. She knows how to turn it on and take off the lens cap. So I don't let her hold it anymore. I wanted to find a camera that she could play with, and Oma had this camera at her house. She walks around holding it up and saying, "Cheese!" As you can see I don't think she's quite ready to take real pictures yet! Unless she's trying to take them of herself!

And Here We Have Idaho!

While my whole family (dad, mom, sisters, brother) are in sunny California, I am stuck in Idaho with this. Does this seem fair?! My dad, mom, and Cory went to visit Erin and Lindsay and her family for a few days. I wish we could have gone! Maybe if they would have waited a couple more weeks- oh well! I hope you guys are enjoying the sunshine and warm weather!

Even though I have lived here my whole life and should be used to it, I still don't like seeing snow in May!

Ashlyn is Too Cute!

Ashlyn is helping Matt water the grass that he accidentally killed.

Funny girl!

Ashlyn thinks outside the box!
(Sitting inside the seat and on the stool upside down!)

Opa's Birthday Party

Happy Birthday, Opa!

We love you and hope you have a wonderful day!

I've used this picture before,
but some people don't like when I take their picture
so I don't have very many to choose from!

This is Opa playing with Bradley, Rylee, and Isaiah-
they always have so much fun with Opa!

More of Me

I've never had so many pictures taken of me in one day- how lucky am I?!? Yes, I am on a lawn mower, but no, I am not mowing the lawn. (Even though Matt wishes I would!) We are just going for a ride. Rylee and Ashlyn both love to mow the lawn with Matt. Ashlyn especially has been wanting to go with him lately. She hears the lawn mower and runs to the back door to see if she can catch a ride. Matt has even taken them for rides around the block- I prefer our backyard. It's big enough for me!

What a Nice Day!

And it's supposed to get even nicer-yea!! I'm getting very excited for summer. Only 14 school days left- the end is in sight. I just hope summer doesn't go as fast as April and May have- they have just flown by!

(I know I have an addiction- I take way too many pictures. And then I can't ever decide which ones to post, so I have to make several collages- sorry!)

My Beautiful Girls

This picture is from Mother's Day.
I'm so lucky to be their mom.
I love my girls!

Grandpa's Birthday

Happy 83rd Birthday, Grandpa!

Ashlyn, Ivy, Grandpa Ludlow, and Rylee

My Uncle Eric, cousin Erica, and her little girl, Ivy, surprised Grandpa with a visit today. Eric lives in St. George and Erica and Ivy live in Salt Lake. We went over to Grandpa's and visited with them for a little while. Ivy is about 3 months older than Ashlyn. The kids shared their "pet" dogs with each other.

We love you, Grandpa!

Really Good Movie

Matt, Rylee, Cory, and I went to see How to Train Your Dragon in 3D on Saturday. I loved it! I wasn't sure if Rylee would like it in 3D, but she kept her glasses on and was on the edge of her seat the whole time. She was so into it- it was so fun to watch her watch it. She loved it. I liked the 3D effects of this one much better than Alice in Wonderland. Later that night she didn't sleep very well and I was worried she was having nightmares about dragons or something, but one time she woke up she said, "I sure liked that dragon movie!"

Ashlyn went with us, but she was having too much fun going up and down the steps and running through the seats laughing, so Matt called his mom and she came and got her. (Thanks, Oma!) She's been watching TV and movies a little bit so I thought she might sit through it, but I was wrong!

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to wish all you mothers a Happy Mother's Day- especially my mom, my mother-in-law, my grandma, and Matt's grandma. You are all such wonderful mothers and examples to me. I am very blessed to have each one of you in my life. I'm so glad that Rylee and Ashlyn get to know you too. I wish they could have met my Grandma Jensen- she was a wonderful mother too and I miss her very much. I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful day!

My mom

My mother-in-law

My grandma

Matt's grandma

(I need to take more pictures of you guys!!)

Fun with Cousins!

Isaiah and Gabriel came to our house to play today while their parents were at work. They all had so much fun! They played on the swingset, jumped on the trampoline, ate lunch, played video games, flew a kite, and went for a ride in the stroller. They also saw the neighbor's rabbits and the horses. It's always so fun when cousins come to play!

Butterflies

My class has been learning about caterpillars and butterflies and we have had some in our class to observe. They are finally butterflies and I told Rylee that I have some in my class. She has been so excited to go see them at school. So Matt brought the girls to school today during lunch and they got to see them and play around a little bit. I think Rylee was a little disappointed in the butterflies- she didn't seem too excited. But she sure had fun making her paper plate butterfly- she really just wanted to use glue. Ashlyn was just having fun doing whatever.

Ashlyn's Hair

Ashlyn lets me do her hair in the morning- she usually sits still and it's no big deal. But she doesn't keep it in very long. She sometimes pulls it out on the way to Oma's or Grandma's. I hate it because then her hair is always in her face and she looks neglected. And I did even give up and not do it for a few days. But that didn't last.

So today I thought I would try something different that she couldn't pull out as easily. It was Saturday and I actually had time in the morning. I don't know how to explain it, but there were three elastics on each side. And the ponytails were connected so I thought she couldn't pull it out. I put bows in and it was way cute. Well by the time I finished Rylee's hair a few minutes later- she had already pulled most of the hair out of one elastic at the top. We went to the store and she didn't really touch it. Then I put her down for a nap. When I went to get her from her crib there were only two elastics left in her hair. How in the world does she do it- and how can it not hurt to pull them out?!

I had to go to Target so I had to do her hair again. This time I just did it in regular pigtails- and 4 hours later, it's still in! Maybe this will be her hairstyle for a while because she doesn't pull it out. We'll see- she's such a little stinker!!

Spaghetti

Gotta love it!

Let's Go Swimming!

Rylee has been wearing her swimming suit for a few days and last night asked if we could go swimming. So Matt called Stephan and we went. We all had a lot of fun! I'm surprised at what a water baby Ashlyn is- she likes it more than Rylee did at that age. It took Rylee a while to like the water, but Ashlyn has always liked it. But Rylee sure loves it now! Especially when she gets to swim with her cousins, Bradley and Mercedes.

I didn't swim so thank you, Stephan and Lucy, for playing with Ashlyn. And thanks for taking us- we sure love swimming with you guys!