Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Even though Kiersten was on her own this week with the girls it really has been a great week. Being on vacation makes life just a little bit better. 

Tuesday, as previously mentioned, was day 2 of Finley trying to figure out how to be in a new place and time zone with new people around and coped by just crying in the car. Every. Time. Wednesday it was a little better because we planned not to go anywhere. We did a quick grocery run and then at noon some of Kiersten's missionary companions and children ventured to her grandparents' home for a few hours of reconnection, reminiscing and refreshments. The kids, 10 in all, enjoyed running around the vast yard and eating so many cookies. That evening we went to Chili's for dinner and it was getting too close to poor Finley's bed time so it was another loud, crying car ride. Thank goodness Mackenzie hasn't showed any irritation of her baby sister's crying spells.

Saw these same ladies last summer. One more baby to the mix with two more on the way!

Gave her a lime for the sour face which she didn't make. She liked it!

Thursday we had the day open and free to do as we pleased. The day began with some exercising and breakfast. Then after Finley's nap and she was changed and fed, we got in the car to visit Kiersten's grandparents in Springville. Finley didn't make a peep! I guess her needs hadn't been met the first 3 days but this day we were doing well. We played a game with Grandma and visited with Grandpa for a couple hours. The baby napped for a little and when she woke, we said good-bye to go get lunch at Zupas. We opted to have a picnic at the park which also happened to have a killer playground. M could barely contain her excitement and eat because she wanted to play so badly. We stayed for over an hour then headed home.

She had fun sitting and playing in the big chair at Grandma's new digs.

A little train that had train noises and everything!

Look at all that snow on Timp! It's June!

Both passed out on the ride home. For an unplanned day I got them tired!

Friday was a beautiful day. We drove up the canyon to spend some time with Kiersten's second Mom, Mary Pearson. We stopped off along the reservoir to have a fun picnic lunch and then continued to Heber. Mackenzie played at another great playground with some much bigger and older kids and held her own for a while until she didn't. We got ice cream at Dairy Keen and on the ride home both girls fell asleep pretty quickly. When we got home we were finally able to connect with Daddy on FaceTime!

Her breakfast of sausage and cheesy eggs to which she exclaimed, "Burger cheese!"

Playing with Ring-a-Majigs, a toy many generations of Hammond children have played with.

GORGEOUS!! The perfect weather. Picnics are the best.

Saturday might just have been the perfect day. In the morning we went to visit the Great-Grandparents in Springville. Daddy was making his way back to Utah so he checked in when he could. After our visit, both girls fell asleep in the car so Kiersten drove around for longer than needed to keep them asleep and grabbed some Chick-fil-A drive-thru. We went to a little playground in Pleasant Grove and sat in the shade while M played and made some new friends. Finally we met up with Kiersten's brother and his family at The Purple Turtle, a Pleasant Grove icon and subsequently Kiersten's favorite food eatery of all time. We came back to Grandma's house and the kids played and played and played. They left around 8 which meant Mackenzie got to stay up past bed time. And finally, close to 11pm, Scott arrived after his day of travel and his well deserved visit to The Purple Turtle.

Walk in the morning with the beautiful mountains as our view.

Making new friends. They instantly began giggling and chasing each other. Precious!

She found a marker and asked for "happy faces".

K always gets a grilled cheese and tater tots or gems as they call them at The Purple Turtle.

All the cousins together.

Sunday was spectacular. Brenton had invited us to attend his Singles Ward at BYU assuring us that the Singles love children. So we got there early, walked around campus a little then attended church. Sure enough the Bishop gave us a little personalized welcome and the girls were perfectly behaved. We visited the Duck Pond for Mackenzie then came back to PG. In the afternoon Brenton, Jenna and soon-to-be-husband Todd came over for dinner and music and playing and games. It was so fun to spend the day with family in person instead of just over the phone.

Hanging outside with Mom and Aunt Jenna.

Sister, Sister:

• First swinging session together! And first period for Finley.
  
• They are "sharing" a room for the first time in their lives. One of the rooms has two closets which are big enough to house a pack-n-play and to trick a toddler into thinking its a room. It fits a little bed for her and she has been content in there. So far they haven't woken each other up but we also have a white noise machine going so maybe that's why.
• Bath time! Now that Finley can sit up, bath time is much more fun with them both in the tub.
• First time Finley sat in a shopping cart her big sister wanted to join her. It was a much easier shopping trip!

  

  Helmets required; Mom's a crazy cart driver! (No, not really.)

The Mackenzie Update:

• Moana is officially her favorite music. She requests it in the car and now at home. She can even sing along with some of the songs and it's adorable.
• "It's my fra-bit (favorite)." This phrase is uttered many times a day about her clothes, food, books, songs, stores, cars, toys, etc.
• Helping and sharing toys with Finley has been huge this week, especially in the car. She'll sing to her when F gets fussy or she'll hand her a new toy and it usually calms her down. The mark of a great big sister!
• Burgers are unquestionably her favorite food. Correction, burger cheese.

The Finley Report:

• This is the first time she's been around lots of kids playing and she was fascinated. She sat and watched every movement of her cousins on Saturday night and cooed and wiggled in delight trying desperately to join in the fun.
• 7 months! We didn't post about it yet but it happened last week. She is a solid sitter and loves to grab and reach for things. She is such a happy baby and we love her to pieces.
  
• TOOTH!! She cut her first tooth this week which explains A LOT! Mackenzie stuck her finger in F's mouth after Mommy announced the tooth and she said, "I see it with my finger!"

  

  It's there just barely peeking out of the gums.

• Apples have been added to her solid food rotation. She's a big fan.

It's been a fun, crazy week catching up with friends and family but Kiersten is so happy Scott is back safe with us and we can share the children load together.