Happy Birthday isla

Isla turned 3 this year.  It was definitely the most fun birthday so far.  It was the first year she could anticipate it, be surprised, open her own presents, and be excited about them.  There are certainly few things more precious than seeing pure delight on your child's face.  She told us all day about the things she didn't need us to do because she was most definitely a big girl now. 

Isla has a lot of spunk.  She is quite good and adamant about expressing herself with an exceptional vocabulary.  This little girl is just about as sassy as she is tender-hearted.  We feel honored to call her our girl.

We thought we would share some photos of her special day.

Being surprised as she wakes up in the morning to her birthday party

Being given our birthday hats (please ignore my morning hair)

The birthday girl

Sawyer checkin' out the balloon action

Opening her new doctor kit and doll

Testing our her fairy wings from the Hunts and Addleys

Trying on Grams luxuriously soft tutu and some new clothes

Enjoying a new birthday book ... she is a book worm through and through

Protecting Penny from the rain storm thanks to Cooper

1st Tea Party

This is Isla 90% of the day ... taking care of someone or something imaginary.  This is Penny her new doll

Visiting the Johnny Appleseed park in Elko for her birthday activity

And finally finishing off the party with the much anticipated cupcakes

Sawyer focusing on his next attack

Delish!

Visit from Grammy and Pops

Grammy and Pops came up to surprise Isla for her birthday.  It was a wonderful surprise.  We started the weekend off with a walk up to the house.  It's taking on color this week!

They also brought some boxes for us.  They were a big hit with the kids.

Island Lake

Since we learned of our future move to Elko, we have hardly been able to wait to venture up to the Ruby Mountains.  With out first free weekend we set out for a short little 4 miler hike.  Isla loved the hike.  She couldn't help oohing and awing at all the wild flowers, catching ants and crickets and other "wildlife" and jumping over every sings rock.  Sawyer loved the nap he got from the hike and crawling around the top of a ginormous boulder we at lunch on.  The top of the mountain not only welcomed us with a beautiful view that was quite the reward from so little mileage, but also a crystal clear glacier lake.  And we have proof that the lake was enjoyed!

Isla was the first to strip down and insistent upon Sawyer joining her.

No complaints by this little man!

Such beauties.

This last picture is Isla going to pick up a rock to throw in the water.  At this same moment Jared turned away from her to hand Sawyer to me and I looked down to put on his socks.  Out of the corner of my eyes I see Isla's lips level with the water.  Guess she decided to make a break for it and take the swim she had so desperately pleaded for. We snatched her out of the water just as she was realizing that the glacier water was just a bit more refreshing than she had anticipated and the water a bit deeper too.  Another close one with this little water bug! She's a brave one I guess.

360

A 360 view of Island Lake

Cowboy

My dad is a cowboy at heart and in practice.

We were playing at this little park in the apartment complex here in Elko and Sawyer found his park feature.  I couldn't help but take a bunch of pictures that show his perfect smile and his mad cowboy skills.  Check out he rides that horse!  I thought my dad would be proud.  Perhaps it runs in this genes? As a side note, Sawyer is wearing my favorite outfit in both pictures; his coveralls.  I am sure my dad will be one of those old me who wears coveralls as he tinkers in the basement ... someday.

Happy Birthday Dad.

Come on in ...

... have a look see.

New

I know I have a lot of catching up to do, which was my plan while we are in this apartment, but I didn't think about all our pictures being on our desktop rather than our laptop.  And unfortunately, I only brought our laptop.  Therefore, I will just be posting our current business; which contains a lot of new.

First off, the house.  You have all been asking so here are a few pictures.  I wish I would have taken pictures each day because it has been fun to visit each day and see the house growing, forming, and taking shape.  But ... C'est la vie ...  Right? So here's a few from the beginning of second week framing and the end of it.

Back of House

2nd Day Back of House

2nd Day Front of House

Exactly two weeks later .....

Front of House

Back of House