26 Months - August 2001

Holy cow kid, July was CRAZY busy. Around here we think a little differently than most people and hope for a good (bad?) fire season, as in lots of fires. We haven't quite gotten that here in Utah/Arizona yet this year, but that did mean that we got to have daddy around to go to reunions, etc., and we were actually able to plan a vacation in the summer that wasn't changed at the last minute due to fire calls!

I also took you and your brother to get your well checks (a month late...), and you, my dear, are in the 25th percentile for both height and weight. Considering your brother is in the 95th and 75th percentiles for those, you are definitely made from a different mold. Your personalities continue to clash pretty regularly, and you use your teeth to help you overcome the size difference. You've got to knock that off kid or they aren't going to let you into high school you know.

I took lots of pictures this month, so I'm going to just do a little explaining about each one and call that good for this month since I'm already almost 5 days late!

This was actually from last month. We didn't get to spend much time with Grandma and Grandpa Hillier this month, although you did get to hang out at their house a few times, which is always fun especially since the new splash pad at the Peach Days park is open. This was taken at Grandma's birthday party in June where you spent most of your time trying to drink the water coming out of the mister... What a nerd you are.

We were able to go to both the Veater and the Hatch reunion with dad this year. The Veater reunion was wet and soggy, which led us to buying a trailer a couple weeks ago. We are so excited to try it out. This was at the Hatch reunion where you, me, and daddy slept in the tent. You woke up so stinkin happy that I had to grab my camera and take a few pictures. This is you "hiding" from me. (if you close your eyes then I can't see you, right?)

Another pic from the Hatch reunion with Quade's bike helmet on your head. Nobody dared tell you it was on backwards...

Getting your first haircut! I finally got you over to my friend Kasidee to have your hair cut for the first time. You weren't quite sure what was going on, which helped you be pretty good while she cut it. It looks so nice now that it is a little more shaped and even. Thanks Kas!

The monsoons haven't been as impressive this year as they were last, and we dont' have any gutters to play leaf race in our new house, but that didn't stop you and Logan from having fun during a storm. This is actually a "before" picture. I didn't take any afters though because I was too busy trying to figure out how to get your mud-covered little bodies down the hall to the tub without getting mud all over the white carpet in this house! You actually ended up laying down on your belly in those puddles!

I finally broke down and bought you guys DVD players for the car. I was always against it, thinking that kids watch too much TV as it is, why would you put it in the car for them? Well, with a LONG trip to Salt Lake ahead of us I decided they might be a good idea. They kept your attention decently well until we gave you the headphones - then we didn't hear another peep out of you! It didn't work so well on our way home, but those TVs sure were nice to have. On our trip you also got to experience the manna from heaven that is Fat Jacks Pizza (Roy's, whatever it is called now?) since we stopped in Manti at Great-grandma Hillier's and then on to Ephraim for lunch. Pizza, breadsticks, and the best ranch you'll ever taste!

Your awesome mom won 4 tickets to Lagoon and 2 nights at a hotel in Layton so we decided we better take you guys on a real vacation this year. We had money set aside but weren't sure we'd end up going until I won the tickets, so that was definitely nice. Grandma and Grandpa Veater met us and were able to go with us to Lagoon and the zoo the next day. Your dad will probably remember this trip as the time I was grumpier than he was in the heat, but I did have a good time, and I know you and your brother had a blast. There were a few Tessa meltdowns when Logan was able to go on a ride when you couldn't, but you did enjoy the rides you were able to go on.

Riding the Puff roller coaster with dad. On every ride we took you on I kept checking for signs that you were scared. I'm pretty sure we could have taken you on the biggest rollercoaster there and you would have been just fine!

Tessa riding the whales! You did this one quite a few times when I had to calm you down while Logan was riding a few of the bigger rides...

Riding a horse on the carousel...

We went to the zoo the next day, and you and Logan were able to see some animals in real life instead of on TV or in books. My favorites are the giraffes, so I made you pose for a picture, except you weren't getting too close to that giant thing...

This last month you've decided that you don't like to go to sleep in your crib, which is super obnoxious since you used to be the easiest kid in the world to put to sleep! The other night you were in my bed watching a movie when I was ready to go to sleep. I just got in bed and was trying to fall asleep when you started pulling at my eyelashes and saying, "Wake UP!!" Your dad had come in by that time and was just laughing, but I didn't really think it was funny at the time!

You're definitely a little mischievous thing, and the other night you faked being asleep. Dad was just about ready to move you from our bed to your crib because your eyes were closed and you weren't moving until you all of a sudden opened your eyes and gave him the biggest smile ever. Just be careful what you ask for though since he will definitely get you back. The other day he learned that you are definitely like your momma and hate to be scared. He snuck around to where you were playing nicely in the toy room and yelled. You screamed bloody murder and then started bawling for the next 5 minutes. It was so funny, but we were trying so hard not to laugh because you were so upset! Definitely keep giving your dad hell because he won't stop doing the same to you, I promise!

Love you sis,

Mom