4th Anniversary

Andrey and I thought we'd celebrate our anniversary a little early since our actual date is Sept. 17-which is a Wednesday. We packed up all our overnight stuff for us and the girls and dropped the girls off at my moms. Now the funny thing is, my mom was running a little late getting home, so Andrey and I unloaded all their stuff into their house, shut the door (to make it look like no one was there) and then took the girls out of the truck, still strapped into their carseats and placed them on the front porch, and then drove into the neighbor's driveway, far back so it wouldn't be noticable. Oh my, it was so funny to see these poor girls stranded on a front porch with no one there to watch them. My mom and sister pulled into the circle and started freaking out...just a little until Bailee scoped out the circle and saw our truck. It was so funny.
(I will post a picture of them when Andrey gets me his phone).
We then went to the Gateway Mall. This is a tradition we started the first year we were married because Andrey had never been there. So, we go once a year, and spend a lot of money and have a lot of fun-just the two of us. We then went to dinner at Benihana (sp?) where we had great food and entertainment as we watched our chef, Leon, make our yummy food. We were sitting next to the cutes family-it made me miss our girls. I'm crazy, I know, I finally get a date night and all I can do is think about Emma and Ellie. Ha, ha.
My aunt Arlene and Uncle Joe paid for us to stay at Castle Creek Inn (thank you so much you two), so we had a great time watching movies, looking at all the scenery (many waterfalls and pretty landscaping), and the great hot tub. We had a delicious breakfast served to us the next morning. We exchanged gifts. Andrey got me a belt that I despretly needed and a Willow Tree Doll, called "Anniversary" where the husband and wife are holding/hugging each other. I collect those dolls so it was so special to get one from him. I got Andrey the picture he's always wanted-the Valley Forge picture with George Washington, and then a book he liked from Deseret Book.
Happy Anniversary to us. I love you so much Andrey!!!

Fillmore Art's Festival

We spent the weekend at the Fillmore Art's Festival. It was so much fun. We got to see all the booths that were set up with different crafts, foods, demonstrations (black-smith, pottery making, etc.). Emma's favorite thing was the bouncy area and the kids stations (chalk coloring, painting, puzzle making, train riding, etc.). I loved the roses that Andrey bought for me (aw...shucks). They were made out of wood. Amazing, I know- and they were even scented. We got to pet the oxen (and I think one of them had a cold...it was disgusting. Ellie wasn't sure what to think). We had dancing and story telling from a Navajoan (sp?) lady-she was beautiful and her dancing was beautiful. There was Willie the Clown who Emma followed around the park all day. We bought cute headbands, jewelery, clothes, and had fun watching the bird show. Ben brought hawks, eagles, and our favorite-the parrot. She played Sleeping beauty for us and would talk to all of us. We ate great food and had a fun night decorating and making a cake for Robyn's 22nd birthday. We then opened presents and then left. My aunt wanted us to take their stray kitten with us but we aren't ready to take care of another cat (poor Tess ), so we got a cute picture of her/him instead (sorry Wendy. Maybe next time).

Uncle Travis

Okay all, I am dedicating a spot on our blog just for Uncle Travis. My brother-in-law is so funny. He is always making us laugh, and the girls just adore him. Before Robyn even married him, he was pretty much the uncle anyway.

Emma always said that she was going to marry him and that she loved him. He has known her since she was in my belly (we worked at Maceys together the last four years). Now, he is married to my sis. and he is a REAL uncle.

Travis was the first person to know that I was pregnant with Ellie (and yes, everyone else was mad, especially Andrey). Emma and Ellie seem to have a special bond with him, and I sure do appreciate his love that he has for them. It is so fun to watch them together. Whenver Robyn calls, Emma will answer it and the first thing she says is, " I want to talk to Travis..." no hello or any other greeting (but they still love you Robyn. Ha, ha.).

Here is a time at dinner at my parent's house when Travis is playing with Ellie. It's fun to see her and Emma always trying to copy whatever Uncle Travis does.

He is their superhero! Thanks Uncle Travis, for being SO cool!

Ellie, Our Little Ms. Independant

Ellie loves to copy everything that Emma does. She noticed Emma putting her own shoes on when she was getting ready for the day, so when Andrey and I were looking for Ellie, we found her doing this:

sorry about the dark video. The funny thing is, when Ellie sees a camera she stops whatever she is doing and has to get right up in front of it...as seen. She is so funny!

Ellie and Her Cup

My little Ellie is so funny. Whenever we go to my parent's house for dinner on Sundays, they give her a sippy cup. Without fail, every time, she will take a drink and then chuck it on the floor, making the water go alllll over the place. Travis, my brother-in-law, found a better way for her to get a drink.

Wonderful Aunts

I was taking my sisters home from school (my mom left to Fillmore a little early so she could get her doll booth set up) when they were waving bye. Now these girls are so funny. They love Emma and Ellie (even though they treat them more like they are sisters...grrrrr-the fighting!), and they take about 10 min. to say bye each time we see them....well today was so funny, that I had to get it on camera:

You got to love Emma picking her nose...ewww!

"F" for Fish

Today Emma learned about the letter 'F'. We talked about fish and the sound that 'f' made-the same sound that fish starts with. She colored her page out of her ABC book and then we colored and traced the letter. I wasn't sure if Emma would understand how to trace the letter (since they don't usually do that until elementary), but she caught on and did a great job.

She loves to say the letter 'f' because it makes her spit a lot. Ha, ha. Emma then picked out her favorite fish pictures and colored that. After, we cut it into a jigsaw puzzle and she got to try to put her fish back together. While she was playing with that, I read her a story about a starfish, Stanley, who was lonely and thought he belonged in the sky with the other stars, until he met another starfish and he was no longer lonely (sorry to ruin the story for those that havn't read it...lol).