My dad decided it was time to clean the lawn mower. Curtis was off somewhere, so he comes over and gets me and tell me that him and I are going to tip the lawn mower over together so he can spray out the underneath. We actually do try (which honestly who were we kidding) and of course we can't do it. So, my dad went and got the towing strap and hooked it to the past of the mailbox and than slowly pulled the lawn mower foward. I don't know why this is worthy of a post picture or a long story, but I can't look at the picture and not laugh out loud.
Oh my...She was the perfect timid lion.
I decided we might as well do theme costumes as long as the girls will let us play.
And of course no Haloween would be complete unless you had several costumes.

Went to nali's last hand apt and got the crappy news that the surgery didn't work. After surgery and intense physical therapy several times a week, her hand has gotten worse. She is starting to lose flexibility in her wrist now. So the doctor informed us that now we know it will be something that she will fight until her body stops growing, So, I am going to be the pissed off parent for just a bit and say "what the hell??" I really have something else in mind to say, but since this is public I will keep it to myself.

Me and my super cute boyfriend, enjoying a picnic with our girls up the canyon.
Denali had another surgery on her hand to release the tendons from scar tissue. The surgery went fairly well. The road to recovery has been super intense. We are hoping that this was a success, but won't know for several more months.
Ocean called this night "A most magical night for dancing" Ema and Nate were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, and afterwords they had a party at our parents house. Ocean and Nali were in heaven. There were twinkle lights, cotton candy, and they got to stay up and dance all night long. Congrats Nate and Ema was love you and are so proud of you!
The final product of Nali's surgery. It broke me heart when I saw this the first time. I kept thinking "what else are you going to do to the poor girl" But than I realized that she still has her hand, and I am grateful for that, no matter what it looks like.
Girls day out to a quilt show up in Holladay. The house it was at was HUGE. I really enjoyed seeing all of the different quilts, and the girls loved seeing the ponies.
HIGHLIGHT of Sept for for sure the POwell trip. Thanks Dastrups for another amazing fun trip. Here are the boys.
Grilling can get a bit intense sometimes. I am just glad that I had my goggles.
This is where I spent my time. Out on the paddle boards.
Ocean's first BYU football game. She went with Curtis and there was huge drama before they left because Ocean wanted to wear her long sleeve shirt that went with her cougar dress. In the end, she ended up wearing it and taking it off later.
Having an apricot tree (or any fruit tree) you are expected to use the fruit that is produced. This is the first year I did, and I tried to make apricot jam. Not freezer jam because I don't have the room. I did thousands and thousands of apricots and all I got in some thin form of jam that my family loving calls syrup. Always next year I guess.

Ocean started preschool. She loved the first day and than had a tough time the second day. Hopefully it goes better this next week.
Movie night at Canyon View Park. This was one of our favorite things we did this summer. Every monday night there was a free family movie in the park.
Denali painting. Trying to get Nali to use her hand a little bit better. Noitce the background of the unfinished wall. More pics to come of that fun project.
Curtis and I going to a play with our friends up at Sundance. It is so beautiful up there. It is one of my favorite places in the whole world. NO the universe.
Grandma Amy came and visited us for a bit in Aug. Denali's hand therapist wants Nali to try and pick up small objects like rice with her hand. So, of course Grandma took it to a whole new level. She came home and filled the little pool with rice and let the girls play in it. So much fun, they love going out to swim in the rice.

I took the girls down early to Cali, so we could spend some time with grandma Amy, grandpa Dan, and Jenny. On my top ten list of things I will never do again I have put: fly by myself with kids under 5. It just is never a good thing. But, it was awesome to be able to spend time with Dan, Amy, and Jenny. The girls loved being spoiled by grandma and having so many people to play with. We went down to the beach the night we got in. Nali was instantly in love with the waves and the water. I couldn't keep her out of it.
Reading time with Auntie Jenny. Ocean has missed having her Auntie Jenny living in Utah. She soaked up all the time she could get with her.
Nali making herself part of the beach. We sat down, she took a big handful of sand and plopped it right into her hair. I was still finding sand in her hair days later.
This is Nali watching some surfers. When someone would get up on the wave she would clap and squeal and run away.
Second day at the beach. If we lived next to the ocean, I am pretty sure we would spend a bit of time everday there. It is so much fun to watch the girls explore and find new things.
Ocean loves making sand castles with grandma Amy. She keeps asking when can we go back and make sand castles. She doesn't like her hands to be dirty for to long though. She would play for awhile and than come and find me to help her wash her hands.
Nali bugs on the other hand was making her own mud wrap. She is acutally sitting in the bin because she was chasing after waves and one smacked her right in the face and knocked her down. It scared her, so she stayed away from the water for ten minutes.
The girls at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Their favorite thing to do at the house was play with Bella (Amy's great dane). Ocean is a bit more reserved around her, but Nali just loved her. She would walk around the house saying "dog dog woof woof."
Our last day with Grandma Amy. We were meeting Curtis at Disneyland so Grandma came with us. Needless to say the day wasn't as magical as I had hoped for. Nali hadn't really napped the whole trip so she was totally cranky. But I was able to lay Nali down for a nap at the hotel and Grandma and Ocean were able to go back in the park.
We did make it back to Toon Town and we went on the Roger Rabbit Ride. Ocean hated it.

Tara came out to Utah for a little visit and we were able to finally meet our nephew Fox!!! He is the only other grandchild on the Marshall side. Fox is Tara and Bryce's boy.Curtis and Bryce must have similar voices, because as soon as Curtis talked, Fox wanted to be with him.
He is so dang cute. He is such a chill little boy.
Ocean was especially excited to meet Fox. She kept saying, "oh my gosh mom, Fox is so cute. He should stay here"
Fox isn't a year old yet, but he already looks bigger than Nali bugs. I think he probably weighs more too.
First time all of the cousins were together. Hopefully they can be together again soon.

Curtis was really sick on his birthday and eneded up at the hospital. He had to get some tests done and they didn't want him to eat. So he went hungry for his birdthday. Sad kid, these are the only pictures I got of him on his birthday.
Ocean's Birthday on the other hand was really fun. The day before her birthday we had a tea party. She invited some porcelain dolls, Marley, and Grandma.
If you want to invite someone who is super fun to a tea party, I would highly reccommend Grandma Penney. She brings cupcakes, baloons, and she wears a pink wig.
Ocean's birthday breakfast. She wanted to have chocolate chip pankcakes on the deck. Curtis woke her up and we had it all ready, she was so excited!!
Ocean's birthday party was super fun. Thanks to everyone who came. She loved having the kids come over and play. Her favorite part was being able to give her birthday baloons to the angels.
I think Nali ate to many birthday cupcakes.
Ocean loved her presents. Whenever she plays with one she comes and tells me who gave it to her.