The Call Family

(Warning: Lots of pictures!)

Like most of you probably did, we celebrated 4th of July three time this year.

We went to see the firework show at Thanksgiving Point on Saturday. Kaden loved watching them but Avery was tired and complained that they hurt her eyes. After the show was over we walked to our car and got it at 10:25. Because of all the traffic it took an entire hour to get home; a drive that normally takes about ten minutes.

On Sunday we celebrated with the Call family. Grandma Call invited us over to her house for dinner and to light/watch some fireworks. She asked us to all wear red, white, and blue so that we could take some family pictures together. For dinner we enjoyed some yummy dutch oven chicken and potatoes. We tried to make homemade ice cream but it took about 3 hours to make and even then was really runny. We still ate it though. After dinner we went to the amphitheater near the LDS Mount Timpanogos Temple to take pictures. Here are some of the pictures we took:

Me and my kiddos.

Grandma Call and Kaden.

Grandma Call, Uncle Landon, and Uncle Blaze.

My cute family.

More of my family.

The whole Call clan.

We woke up bright and early Monday morning to head over to Provo and watch the hot air balloons launch. It was really neat to see all the balloons up in the air.

Avery loved watching them. Her favorite balloon was the pink pig from Bank of American Fork.

It was a little chilly in the morning so I tried to keep Kaden’s blanket on him, but he did not want it on. He kept kicking it off. After the balloon launch and some breakfast at McDonald’s we went to the Provo Parade. It was really hot. Avery loved to watch the royalty floats and the “princesses” on them.

Later that evening we went over to Grandma Christiansen’s house for dinner and fireworks. My mom made yummy hamburgers and homemade ice cream. After dinner we went outside and played some games until it was dark. My mom didn’t want to play with us. She just wanted to play with Kaden.

Skyler and Kaden waiting for the fireworks to start:

My dad is really cute with Avery. Here he is helping her light sparklers:

There were some ants on the sidewalk near where Avery was playing with the sparklers. Aunt Nicole taught her to show the ants her sparklers.

My cute mom watching Avery and Nicole play with the sparklers:

Kaden enjoyed watching the fireworks.

Avery loves Aunt Nicole. This is them watching the fireworks:

Thanks everyone for making our 4th of July so great!

Every year my grandparents take my whole family to Homestead Resort in Midway. Avery has been so excited to go. When she wok up Thursday morning, the first thing she said was, “Mom, today we are going to Homestead!”

At Homestead my grandparents rent out two condos right across the street from the park. Avery loved playing in the sand with my cousin, Jessica.

My aunt, Heidi, always plans fun crafts and service projects for us to do while we are there. She brought bandannas and we got to decorate them. Avery didn’t want to decorate hers so I did it for her.

My bandanna.

My dad holding Kaden.

My dad loved playing with Avery and Kaden.

Skyler enjoyed relaxing outside with Kaden.

Kaden is always trying to be “so big”.

We took Avery on a walk to see the crater. She enjoyed riding on Skyler’s shoulders.

We had a ton of fun swimming, playing, and visiting with family at Homestead.

Last week my friend, Sharresa, and her kids came over to visit. We planned to go swimming at the pool across the street from my house, but by the time we got there it was closed. We decided to go to Roxberry and get smoothies and then to the Highland fountain behind the Library instead.

Avery had a blast playing in the water.

She loved playing with Layceelyn. I wish that they lived closer so that the tow of them could play together more, they have so much fun together.

Cute girl!

On Father’s Day we let Skyler sleep in a little bit while we prepared his present. We wrote a special message for him on the mirror in the bathroom (I didn’t get a picture of it, sorry) and we put together this present. My mom gave Skyler and Kaden matching ties, they looked so handsome in them! (picture below)

For this Father’s Day post I thought that since Skyler has been a father for 3 years now that I would write 3 things that make him a great father/interactions with our children that I think are cute!

1. I love to watch Skyler play with Kaden. After dinner he will take Kaden into our alcove and lay on the floor and they will just play together. I can tell that Kaden loves his daddy so much!

2. About a month ago we had a “Girl’s Night” in Park City for my mom’s birthday. It was just for the adult girls so I left Avery home with Skyler (Kaden came with me because I am still nursing him). Avery was so excited to have a daddy/daughter night.

Skyler asked her, “What do you want to do on our daddy/daughter night?”
Avery responded, “I want to go get a daddy/daughter ball.”
Skyler: “What is a daddy/daughter ball?”
Avery: “I don’t know”
Skyler: “Where do we go to find a daddy/daughter ball?”
Avery: “I don’t know.”
Skyler: “If we go to the store will you know what it is when you see it?”
Avery: “Yes.”

Skyler and Avery ended up spending some of their time that night at my dad’s house having dinner and then he brought her home and they watched a movie together, he even let her sleep in our bed with him. The next morning he got her dressed and did her hair and took her out and bought her a pair of Tinker Bell shoes because she didn’t have any cute shoes to go with her outfit.

I love that he took such good care of our daughter while I was gone, it is comforting to know that when I am not there that she is taken care of. I also love that he styled her hair!

3. Skyler is always trying to teach our children new things. He is teaching Kaden to be strong by helping him to sit up and hold his head up. He is teaching Avery how to speak properly by correcting her when she says something the wrong way and teaching her big words that are so cute to hear her say in the correct context! He also teaches me new things everyday. He teaches me by his example how to be positive.

Skyler is a great husband and father. I am so blessed to have him in my life. I love you honey!

On June 19, we went to The Gateway with Grandma Call and Uncle Blaze to see the sidewalk chalk pictures. They were really neat!

Avery loved the one of the Disney Princesses. (She was being shy because there were a few girls waiting to have their picture taken with this one and they were watching her.)

Avery and Uncle Blaze

There were several of “Alice and Wonderland”. Avery loves “Alice in Wonderland”.

Avery also love the ones of Mermaids.

This one is from one of Avery’s favorite books. She loves the girl with the stripes!

Avery being silly with Kaden for the camera.

These are a few of my favorites.

We had a lot of fun!

Last week the Relief Society in our ward organized a play group at one of the local parks. We took a lunch, and sat on blankets and visited while watching our children play. Not many people showed up but we still had lots of fun!

Kaden loves being outside!

There weren’t any girls there that were Avery’s age so she played by herself.

I had just finished telling some of the other moms that Avery does not like swings when she came up to me and said, “Mom, I want to swing on that swing!”. She loved it!

She is such a cutie!

We had a great time, I hope they continue to have a play group each month. It was fun to get together with the other moms and kids from our ward.

I decided with it being summertime and me not working that it would be the perfect time to potty train Avery. We have worked on it off and on since Christmas but have not had much success.

About two weeks ago I told her she was going to start wearing ‘big girl underwear’. She was very excited about that and is now doing really well. Eight days have passed with no accidents and she has filled up two of her potty-charts. Until we are more confident that she will recognize at night when in bed if she needs to go to the bathroom she will continue to wear diapers to bed. I am hoping to have her doing that soon. I am very proud of my little girl, who is not so little anymore. Good job Avery!