My little brother got married last weekend! 
My wonderful family!
Kajsa, Ashlynn, Brogan, and Brynn
Scott and Megan got a 7 gun salute at their reception!!!
Kajsa was so excited to go to the princess party
We thought we had better get to Hogle Zoo before the summer was over. Tom, Melanie, Brogan, and Ashlynn were in town for Scott's wedding, so we thought we would all go together. Scott and Megan even took some time out of their busy last minute wedding tasks to join us. Brogan was our tour guide with the zoo map in hand. He was directing us and telling what animals were next. He was especially exicted to see the elephants and tall giraffes. Kajsa enjoyed it also and stuck close to Megan and Scott. Brynn was a good sport hanging out in the stroller. It was a nice day and we were glad we got to hang out the the Bowens!
Watching the elephant eat and make a mess!
Dirty Rhino! Kajsa looks at this picture and says, "I need to clean him."
Zebras!!! One of my favorites!
I was surprised that Kajsa didn't hesitate to take a
Kajsa and I seeing the "tall" giraffes as Brogan calls them!
Taking a break from all the walking!
Ashlynn checking out the map!
Big old ape just minding his own business.
We all moved on to other animals except Ashlynn and the ape moved to come look at her!We weren't planning on going home to Idaho for the County Fair this year, but Simon needed to work some long days and he told us to pack up and go. I grew up going to the county fair every year. My family has been very involved in it for many years. My siblings and I were involved in 4-H and had a pig and sugar beet project every year. (Yes, I am a true 'Beet Digger'. That is why Simon fell in love with me. He was also a Beet Digger in high school! Go Jordan High School!!!) My dad is also on the fair board and spends many hours every day of the week of fair helping make everything run smoothly. So it is a fun tradition to go to it every year. We were only there for a couple of days and got to enjoy the rodeo and see all the animals. Kajsa didn't want to smile for the camera, so many of the pictures she's in she has such a sober face! Little stinker!!!
Watching the pig show! Aww the memories! :)
Checking out the sheep!
Posing by the big steer! I felt like such a city slicker
Kajsa throwing a fit! "No picture!"
Getting ready for the rodeo to start! I thought they looked so cute watching the arena getting ready!
A little past Brynn's bedtime
There's my dad sitting in the middle! What a handsome cowboy!!!
A massive crowd of kids ready to chase around baby calves
They're off running! I never did this when I was young. Probably because my parents wouldn't have ever let me! My dad informed me that none of his grandkids would ever do it either! Too many kids running all over the place in mass hysteria! Crazy!
Grandma and Kajsa went to get popcorn and they both came back each with their own box! Kajsa loved it and ate almost all of it!
What a cute trio!
A result of no nap. Good thing Poppy was there to hold her.
Kajsa's first cowgirl hat! When she puts it on she says, "Yee Haw!"
I am trying to stay consistent with keeping up with Brynn's checkup and blogging about them. I also like to compare Kajsa and Brynn at each checkup. I know I shouldn't compare them, but all I am comparing is their weight and such. Plus this is my journal and my blog and I can do whatever I want! It doesn't mean I love them any different!
I can't believe that Brynn is now six months old! Her first six months have gone a lot faster than Kajsa's did. She finally broke the trend of being 1 oz. smaller than Kajsa. She weighed 13 lbs. 6 oz. Still in the 5th percentile, but that is how it is! She weighed 1 lb. and 1 oz. more than Kajsa did at her six month checkup. She is doing so much now. She can pretty much sit up by herself, but still needs a little propping up. She is enjoying eating rice cereal and loves peas, bananas, and strawberries! She can roll all over the place and is gaining a little ground by scooting an inch or so. She loves to take out her binky and hold it in her hand and examine it. She grabs at everything even her own hair! I keep telling her that she shouldn't pull at her hair because it will hurt, but it doesn't seem to bother her. She smiles tons for Simon, Kajsa, and I, but not so much for strangers or even Grandma and Poppy! She usually has a stone cold look and likes to stare you down! She doesn't have any teeth yet, which I am not complaining!
Brynn- 6 months
Kajsa is starting to fear "bugs" more as of lately. Before she would just tell me there was a spider or bug and I would grab a tissue and take care of the problem and she would watch me. Well, now she runs to me almost crying telling me there is a "bug". Lately we have had a few flies get into the house. She hates them! This morning there has been a pesky fly who thinks that it can land on you and just hang out! EWWW!! Kajsa has been a little scared of it! Well, I guess I wasn't taking care of the situation as quickly has she would have liked because she grabbed a tissue and was swatting the air saying, "Go away bug." It is pretty funny seeing her chase it around the room swatting the air with the tissue! (She just informed me that is is "too hard".) I guess it is time to go get the fly swatter and take care of the situation now.
Kajsa has entered the phase in her life where she doesn't take a nap at all! (Bummer deal for me!) We were in Idaho visiting my parents and one afternoon I told her that she needed to take a nap because we were going to be out late and so she needed her rest. I told her I would take a nap with her. Win-win situation for both of us right? I laid down on the bed and told her to lay down. She informed me that she "aw-ready took a nap". I said, "Oh really, when did you take a nap today?" She said, "At 2:30 o'clock." Hmmm...I guess I must have been taking a nap too!
Last night was probably the best night's sleep I have gotten in umm...probably about 8 months or so! Hallelujah!!! Brynn slept the entire night! I know there are probably many of you out there thinking she is just NOW sleeping through the night! Since Brynn was born she actually has been a great sleeper in my book. The majority of the time she would only wake up once during the night, so I didn't mind getting up to feed her. Now she is enjoying eating rice cereal and so now she is sleeping longer. She slept the entire night just before officially becoming 6 months old tomorrow! Where does the time go? I felt like it took forever for Kajsa to be 6 months old. Brynn is growing up so fast. We love her happy countenance and sweet smiles!
Still grasping onto her binky
Gotta love the hands behind the head and her foot up on her knee!
I think she was trying to hide!The other day Kajsa said the most precious thing! It would melt your heart had you heard it. We were driving in the car and we put a CD in. It was a Lex de Azevedo 'Variations on a Sacred Theme' CD.
K: "That soun make me happy."
M: "What? The sun makes you happy?"
K: "Soun make me happy."
M: "Oh that sound makes you happy. The music makes you happy."
K: "Ya, the music makes me happy."
What a great example she is to me. She reminds me that hymns and gentle music can make our hearts feel happy! I love this girl!!!
The girls and I stayed at my parents house for a week and a half. Simon came with us to the temple open house, but then needed to go home and work. I had a friend getting married the next weekend, so I decided to just stay for the week. So Kajsa got to play with a couple of the cousins for a couple of days. They got to do lots of things. They played on the swings, jumped on the trampoline, ate ice cream, rode Splash (Poppy's horse), climbed trees and played in the water. Then everyone went home and we stayed. One of my good friends got married this weekend and Simon and I went to the wedding. She looked beautiful and they both seemed very happy. Kajsa was excited to go to the "Princess Party" (reception). When we left she said she wanted more "Princess Party". We told her that she will have to wait until Megan's Princess Party! (Just a few weeks away!) It was fun and relaxing to be at my parents and the weather was much cooler than at our house. You gotta love those nice Idaho country breezes.
So serious on the swing!
Ashlynn and Kajsa enjoying their ice cream cones.
The girls modeling their sashes for their dresses for Scott's wedding.
Kajsa was a little freaked out being up in the tree. Plus I think Ashlynn is putting all her weight on Kajsa, so it wasn't too comfortable for her!
Much better in the tree by herself!
The beautiful Idaho sunset. Too bad I don't have a better camera to capture it! (Just picture the color being more brilliant!)
Playing in the water!
Kajsa was scared of Splash. She would only get close if Megan (future Aunt Megan) was holding her.
Then I got on Splash and convinced her to get on with me. I was glad that her frown turned to a big smile!
Hanging out on the backhoe! Brogan looks like he knows what he is doing!
Cute flower girl Jayden and ring bearer!
Ashley and Donell
We had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Twin Falls Idaho Temple Open House on the 24th of July. It was so beautiful. All of my family except the Iowa Bowens were able to come. This temple is very special to our family since my parents live within this temple district. It is only 45 minutes from our house. My parents have also been involved with the Open House. They are in charge of scheduling the tour guides for their stake when the stake is in charge of two of the days for the Open House. So they were excited for all of us to go and see it with them. Since Kajsa loves to see temples she was excited to be able to go inside of one! It was such a great experience to take our family. It was so beautiful inside. While I was visiting my parents I got to hear quite a few wonderful missionary experiences people have had with the temple open house. It was a great experience that our family will always remember.
