A staycation

Tyler had some unused holidays that he had to take, so between those and the 4th of July, he had all of last week off! We made a long list of things to do- both fun and otherwise- for the week and had ourselves a little staycation. It was great to get things more organized in our house and to have all that time with Tyler! Millie and I were spoiled with Daddy around and reality hit hard Monday when he went back to work.

Our long list of things to do over the week

Monday: Our most productive staycation day! We got up early and washed the cars, re-organized and cleaned the garage, and Tyler did the back lawn. We were exhausted after the day was over!

Everything's a purse

 Tuesday: We were pretty tired from Monday! Tyler's back was especially sore and he could hardly move. He went to get a quick adjustment from his dad early in the morning and stayed low the rest of the day. I had a YW's meeting and then moved my craft stuff into the office! Now I'll be able to close the doors and Millie won't be able to get into everything. Win win.

Random, but taken on Tuesday

Wednesday: We spent the morning with Gigi, Grammy, and AJ. Millie ate her first ice cream cone at Jason's Deli and we swam for a little bit. I went to a YW activity in the evening, so Millie had a date with Daddy.

Thursday (the 4th of July) was a fun, busy day! Softball in the morning for the boys, swimming, BBQ, naps, another BBQ with friends from our ward, and two rounds of fireworks. I attempted to make sugar cookies, but ran out of shortening, so I just used all butter. The dough was way too soft to roll out! So I threw it all in a pan and it was a weird, sugar cookie cake. I guess it tasted alright, but still.

Getting pretty at Gigi's vanity

Delilah and Millie cheering their dads on

Smolder

People-watching. Typical.

We've already decided they're getting married

Obsessed with the V's play kitchen

I love Storey's pose in the background!

Round 1 of fireworks

Why yes, we all wore stripes

Round 2 of fireworks, this time on Ivy Trail

Thank goodness Janice brought out her noise-canceling headphones 

Friday: Millie had her 18-month checkup in the morning. We went to the Willowbrook Mall afterward and wandered around. We also got Tyler's watch fixed so now it fits! In the evening we went with the Juergens crew to the drive-in movie theater. We had Subway for dinner and played games waiting for the movie to start. Good thing we got there so early- the place was packed! We saw The Lone Ranger and it was good. Millie finally fell asleep in my arms probably halfway through the movie (10ish)! It was a really fun night.

We played Phase 10 and Wizard

We tried to get her to sleep in the back of the car... fat chance

Saturday we went to the temple with the Juergens! Thanks go to Heidi and James for watching Millie. We played games and swam in the afternoon and then went to Nana's surprise birthday party! Spring Creek BBQ was delicious and it was fun to celebrate with Nana. She was really surprised- Botz did a great job planning and keeping it a secret!

Obsessed with Perplexus

He got me hooked too!

Happy Birthday Nana!

So fuzzy, but for memory's sake I'll leave it

Millie wouldn't leave Nana's lap once the cake was nearby!

We had a great week! I'm not going to lie, I cried a little bit on Saturday (maybe Sunday?) night. I hated that Tyler's vacation was already over. {Also, Millie turning 18 months old and starting nursery may have had something to do with it.} I expected the week to last forever and we would get everything done on our list and then some! But of course, that's never the case. Life happens, and it happens really quickly. Too quickly. But we loved every minute of our week together!

Uh, June?

Except for the Dude Ranch, I kind of feel like this month didn't really happen! But I guess it really did. Here are some random pictures from the rest of June:

Lots of reading. This is one of her favorite books!

Millie went through a phase of glaring when being disciplined. It was a seriously scary face!

Millie and I drove Sarah to San Antonio for EFY! Unexpected, but fun to spend time with her.

Played tennis for the first time in almost a year!

Even though Ellie and AJ beat us, it was fun. 

At the temple for AJ's first time through. I don't have any pictures of the whole group, unfortunately.

I visited our ward's Girl's Camp for an evening

Lots of swimming

First Nutella sandwich

Baby tan lines

And treating the hose like a trumpet

Also, these are chronologically backwards. There you have it.

Millie at 18 months

Millie had a half birthday on Saturday!! We can't believe she is 18 months old. She went to nursery at church on Sunday and really liked it! She did great until they brought her to me for a poopy diaper. Once she saw me it was hard to go back. Tyler walked by and heard her crying so he rescued her! She fell asleep on his shoulder for the last little bit of church. Poor thing. But I think after a week or two she will do really well!

At 18 months, Millie:

-loves her binky, grapes, strawberries, chips, toast, fruit snacks (any sweets, really) being outside, pretending to cook, swimming, Super Why, and reading.

-dislikes most other foods, coming inside when she's playing outside, being ignored (she repeats things over and over until answered/acknowledged), and putting things away.  She really is such a happy, easy-going girl- I had to think for a long time to write some things she doesn't like!

-says Dada, Mama, Gigi, Poppy, Ma (Grandma), Pa (Grandpa), Nana, Botz, Mammy (Grammy), Ida (Heidi), James, AJ, Gar-gar (for Garrett AND Mitchell- she'll learn the difference someday), water, toast, butter, grapes, all done, more, no, cheese, bottle, please, thank you (signed), bye, hi, baby, babies (binky), treat, ice (outside), Teddy, eat, buck (buckle), car, walk, at (hat), mower, tars (stars), plate, watch, ya-ya (love you), and other things I'm not remembering I'm sure. I've never written it down before!

-has become quite the runner! It's hard for me to keep up with her sometimes, she's so fast.

-is a Mama's girl but gets so excited when Daddy comes home.

We went to her 18-mo. checkup on Friday. I was actually worried about her weight because of how picky she is, but she is growing well. She's 33" tall, 90%ile. Weighs 23.9 lbs, 40%ile (up from the 22%ile last checkup). Her head is still big-- 19", 93%ile! 

Millie looks so old to me lately! She's becoming a little girl and it kind of breaks my heart sometimes. If this weren't such a fun age I'd be really sad to see her grow up! But we love watching her grow and learn. Millie is my little buddy and is the sunshine in our lives.

Everything is a hat these days

She is actually really good at walking in my shoes!

At her 18-mo. checkup

I didn't tell her to strike a pose. Such a diva! 

Like mother, like daughter

I came across an old photo of me the other day while cleaning. I don't remember ever seeing it before, and it looks like my Grandma Andersen's handwriting on the back: Camille Andersen, Houston, Texas, summer 1990. I love seeing how much Millie looks like I did at that age!

Me around 18 months

Millie around 17 months

Together, a few weeks ago

I just love that little girl. I love the things I see in her that are like me, or that are like her Daddy. It's pretty darn cool to have a little piece of us walking around, talking, learning, and growing.

Sister Memory

So, one day quite a few summers ago (though I won't say how many because it'd be embarrassing to say how recent it really was), a few of my sisters and I were watching an America's Next Top Model marathon. I guess we got a little bit inspired, because things just started happening. Before I knew it, I had safety pinned my jeans (to become skinny jeans, of course) and we were all overly made up. I hope none of my sisters are mad at me for posting these... but I think it's been enough years now that it's just funny! Plus, I have to delete them from my computer. They're taking up valuable space on my computer (all 300+ of them) and I need to delete some things so it will run faster. Anywho... here are the least embarrassing ones. I'll spare you the really bad ones.

Obviously, we were trying to re-create something with those silly faces. Not sure what.

Look at those safety pins!!! Hilarious!

Sometime during the ridiculousness, Laura came and Lindsay left.

Trying to re-enact a very serious shot... and failing

Seriously?

Anyways. I definitely miss these silly times with my sisters!!