Summer Fun

The temperature is definitely rising here and for the Harward family that means it's time to break out the water fun. We're always happy when Grandma wants to put up her big water slide. You never have to ask Brylie twice if she wants to go play on it. And this year she's even getting brave enough to go down the slide instead of climbing up and then going back down the ladder.

We're sure happy Grandma has this fun slide and look forward to many afternoons playing on it and spending fun time with family.

Teething Stinks!!!!

and that's all I have to say about that. (If this wasn't a family site, I might consider using stronger language with the fun I've had for especially the last few days.)

Bees Family Home Evening

Each month we have a ward activity and this month it was a Bees game for family home evening. Brandon and I have never been to a Bees game together and the kids have never been to a baseball game. After an hour of misunderstandings with Brylie and going back and forth if we were going to go or not, we decided to go. Going to the game turned out to be just what we all needed. We were able to talk with some friends in the ward while Brylie got to run around with the other kids.

(Notice the nice sign on the fence. )

Beckam had fun crawling around and figured out how to use the hill to his advantage to stand up by himself (and unfortunately I was too busy watching to see what he would do next to get a picture.)

(and he has his fang teeth trying to come through right now)

Along with the baseball game came waiting in line for some snacks. Brylie chose ice cream and was reluctant to share. I snuck in some contraband food. I guess there was no outside food allowed but they didn't check at the entrance.

We lasted as long was we could and during the bottom of the 8th, and after Beckam had his bottle, we made our exit with a bunch of other families. Brylie was not too thrilled to be leaving, but with the promise of another game, she left without too much protest.

Then it was off to get our free scones for the Bees getting 5 runs in one inning. It was a great Family Home Evening.

Paid to Play

Today was Brandon's work party at Lagoon. He only had to work half day and then we headed to Lagoon with the majority of Overstock. He actually got paid to play with his family. We all enjoyed the extra time with Brandon and I especially enjoyed watching Brylie have so much fun. What a great day!!!

Special Friends

Today I was downstairs while Beckam was taking a nap and Brylie came and got me. She said she needed my help upstairs. From past experience, I was worried about what might have happened. She took me to her room and said she needed my help making dinner for her special friends. There on the floor she had some of her toys set out around a "blanket" with plates in front of each one.

This is the first time she has held a group party. She's played with one or two toys at a time in some kind of pretend scenario, but this was the first tea party. It is so fun to see her imagination bloom.

(This picture is just classic Brylie)

Happy Father's Day

(The tie Brylie made for Brandon)

One Sunday a year we come together to formally honor our dads and other "dad" figures who have touched our lives. Sometimes I feel dads may get a little over looked. I don't know if Father's Day feels as big as Mother's day. (Our ward dads didn't even get candy at church today.) So I am doing what I can to honor the main dads in my life and here is a big pat on the back to all the dads out there.

First is my own dad. Here is a picture a month or so before he had his first Father's Day. (I'm the baby in the picture.)

He has been and continues to be an awesome dad. He grew up with five brothers, no sisters, and I'm the first girl/granddaughter on his side of the family. I don't know what was going through his head when he found out he had a daughter, but he's done a great job raising me. Growing up, he was busy with work and church, but he took time out for his family and he took time out to spend time just with me. (He did this with every kid, but my time is what mattered most, at least to me.) He helped coach my softball team, he came to volleyball games, and one of the things I remember most were our lunches. When school was out for the summer, my dad would take one kid at a time out for lunch. Just us and him. And he would go to whatever restaurant we wanted. I don't know how he isn't so sick of Olive Garden with all the times I made him go there. My dad isn't a man of words. He's a man of action and through his actions I know I matter to him and he's glad to be my dad. He is someone I can count on when the chips are down and to celebrate with me when the times are good. Happy Father's Day DAD!!

I have to say Happy Father's Day to my grandpa as well. He raised my dad and acted as a dad for me when I lived with him. He always has a listening ear and great council.

Happy Father's Day to my father-in-law, Jim. I've enjoyed being part of his family for over five years and am really appreciative that he raised such a great son. Jim is such a great person.

Last but certainly not least, Happy Father's Day to my awesome husband and greatest father to our kids.

I couldn't imagine going through the parenting experience without him. He makes everything with the kids so fun and they enjoy every minute with him. Brylie tries to keep him from going to work each morning and both kids are so happy when he gets home each night. He is the best. And hopefully we were able to show him how much he means to us. For Father's Day Brandon got a memory foam mattress pad (he eyes them each time we're at a store), a Brylie original tie, and some candy. To be honest, I think he enjoyed the tie the most and he proudly wore it to church today. I know that just added to how happy Brylie was about the tie. After church we went to Brandon's parent's house for dinner. It was nice to spend Father's Day with Brandon and Jim. The kids had fun and it was great to just hang out.

I hope all the other fathers out there had as fun a day as we did.

Super Saturday

Ah Saturday. I remember when they would be somewhat relaxing. With two kids and trying to get our house ready to sell, relaxing Saturdays have been forgotten. That is until today. We decided to put everything we really should be doing on the back burner and accept an invite up to Park City for some shopping and swimming. It was just what we needed. We had so much fun and Brylie keeps saying how much she loves swimming. As we were heading back to town Brandon commented on how relaxing the day had been. (And that was even with me spending money at the outlets.)

After Park City we headed to Brandon's parents for a little Father's Day celebration with the whole family. We had pizza, sat around and chatted, and let the cousins play.

We weren't there very long but it was nice to see everyone and let Brylie work off more energy. It really was a super Saturday.

A Night Out for Me

I'm not one to join clubs or do memberships to anything. I'm so worried that I won't put it to use and I don't want to waste the money. Well after already going to the zoo a couple of times this year and seeing going at least a few more, I decided to buy a membership to the zoo. Last night we went to the zoo for Members night and I think the night ended up being more for me then the kids. We went with Randy, Viv, and Britton. Well Viv happens to have the same camera I just got and knows how to use it, so during the night she shared with me the settings she was using and what each really did. Camera wise I got so much out of last night and some pretty good pictures to. At least better pictures then I would have gotten with my point and shoot. And I feel I can handle this big, massive options camera better. The kids and husbands had fun too. Brylie and Britton got to run around and see the animals. We even made it to see the White Alligator this time. We passed on him last time due to the line and it's all we heard from Brylie for the rest of the day.

The weather was wonderful and I wish the zoo would be open later at night during the summer. With how hot it gets I'm not sure when we'll go during the day, but with a year long membership, I'd better figure it out pretty soon. The husbands also started planning our activities for Hawaii and chased the kids around while Viv and I talked camera. All in all I would say it was a successful night. And Brylie added as we were leaving, "Coming to the zoo makes me happy. When we leave it makes me sad." Good thing we can come back whenever we want because heaven knows I can use a happy Brylie.