Little Miss Santaquin

This past weekend I dragged Darrell and Steven to Santaquin with me so we could watch my darling niece in the Little Miss Santaquin pageant. It wasn't a huge pageant, but it was so much fun to go down! I got to help do her hair and makeup(which she didn't need much of, she is so gorgeous) and it was fun to see little girls having fun on stage! Of course, Karen was the bell of the ball in her gorgeous red dress, and she won Queen of her age division (5 year olds) It was actually super funny, because as they were reading the attendents, all the other girls around her were getting crowns and sashes, and this little pout and look of sadness was creeping upon her face, because she thought she didn't get anything! It was awesome, and of course, she was excited to win!

My camera didn't work to great in the lighting, but here are the cute little 5 year olds Steven and I with the darling little queen This is one of my favorite pictures, because it captured Karen's real smile

Grandma Rowley with Karen and Hannah, three of the beautiful princesses in our family

Karen showing off her dance for all of us

Man, it's so easy to love this kid!

Just as I was getting ready to type this, Steven and I were balancing marker on our noses. Yet another reason why it is NOT hard to absolutely be in love with this kid!

When we got home from California, Steven found a swim diaper, and decided now was the time he decided it's about time he practiced dressing himself. He will pull clothes onto his right leg and create quite the fashions. They usually end up with a sock too.

Also, cars have been the toy of choice around here, and Steven loves to line them up and start counting them. Usually, of course, the only numbers that we can understand are "three, four, five, eight eight eight!" But we're working on the proper order of things:)

A day cannot be complete with a little rest and relaxation while watching Curious George...

Or listening intently to Dad's amazing book reading skills...

or mom putting her sweater on you so that she can enjoy the rain with the window open even though it's gettin' pretty cold!

Here's one more for cuteness sake...

It's about time!

Steven has had his few favorite words that he has said for a long time, but it seemed no matter how hard I tried to get him to say more or repeat anything I said, he would smile and laugh, as if to say "Mom, I'll talk when I want to." Come Monday morning, Steven sees the duck containing bubbles, and he suddenly says "Bubbles please!" I was shocked! And for the day, bubble was his favorite word, and it is SO flippin' cute! As the days have gone by, he has just started jabbering real words up the storm. His favorites besides bubble are "Grandpa" and "Gramma." It's awesome to finally understand what he's saying. Today, he was sitting on the couch while I was playing the piano, and I looked back to see he had found a spool of my bow ribbon and was wrapped up in pink sheer ribbon. He smiled when I looked at him and said "pretty!" He simply cracks me up.

Finally.....

It only took me about a week to start posting these, but here they are!! We went to Modest, San Francisco and Yosemite National Park in California with the Cropper Family for a fun filled vacation! Darrell's niece Emily got baptized over memorial day weekend, which was the whole reason for the idea of this trip. It was fun and exhausting, and I hope some of my *few* pictures can help show how awesome it was! Enjoy all!

San Francisco - Day 1

Our first stop in San Fran was the famous Ghirardelli Square. They gave us some fantastic free chocolate samples, and we bought some delicious ice cream while we were there as well

Beginning our walk around the Bay piers and wharf

We ate at this fun restaurant right on the bay called Tarintinos

The cool street car

I can't go to a major city without trying to imitate some piece of art work

Steven's favorite thing was the sea lions, and barking at them

He, however, hated the fake things..

Cool submarine on Pier 41..I think

Alcatraz. Wish I could've gone.

Cool fresnal lense at the Maritime museum

Steven by the sea lions with daddy

Good ol' Lombard Street :)

Oakland/San Francisco

Tuesday we went to the Oakland Temple in the morning before venturing back over the bay to see the Golden Gate Bridge. The temple was simply beautiful, and it was a great sessions! The grounds were also beautiful, and Steven had fun smelling lots of flowers.

I loved that you could walk up around the Terrace of the temple

Beautiful roses were everywhere...

Just a beautiful temple all around!

Monday the bay was SO foggy/smoggy so we were really excited when we had such a great view on Tuesday

The shadow of the bridge...we walked to the first pillar dealio

Steven was a little trooper and walked all the way to the pillar by himself

Darrell enjoying the walk

Fun photo spot

It was extremely windy

Battery Spencer was pretty cool

Steven escaping the wind

We drove around the coast line for a bit, and I was more than pleased to see a lighthouse :) This one is the Point Bonita Lighthouse just directly West of the Golden Gate Bridge

Tuesday night we headed back to Darrell's sister's to take a break on Wednesday before the rest of the week's adventures

Yosemite - Day 1

Thursday morning we left Modesto and started our trek West which included a 2 and a half day trip to Yosemite National Park! Despite the windy car sickness inducing roads, it was a beautiful drive, and a beautiful park!

Our first view of the valley! Bridal Veil Fall Half Dome

Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls - We hiked to this one

Yosemite Falls again

It rained quite a bit that day, but it was beautiful. Steven loved riding in the back carrier!

Hiking to Bridalveil fall

Bridalveil Fall

Steven hanging out

Me being dumb...

Cute lil family by the river

Darrell and Steven by the river

more river..

This was called the Tunnel View...but basically you have an incredible view of Yosemite Valley