Dino Day

We headed off to explore Dinosaurs, T has quite the fascination with Dinosaurs lately. If you have seen Dinosaur Train on PBS well T has seen every episode and he can tell you everything about Dinosaurs. So he was quiet happy to be able to go here, and Al and I were happy to go along for the ride!

Aleksandra and I in the dark, starry tunnel.

Our weaksause Dino we built, I am pretty sure that Dino could not run if he wanted to. We named him Mikeysaures (no reference of course)!

T and Al at the Museum, love those two.

T can finally reach the sand, and Al just wants to be like T. Soon enough she will be big enough. Plus I though she looked really cute in this apron.

The Museum was dead, no pun intended! I like it dead that way the kids are more free to explore! I can spot them easy as they explore the dinosaurs.

Miss. Aleksandra looking up at the big T Rex!

Pretend

Aleksandra is really into playing with her baby lately. She feeds that baby, brushes it's teeth at night. Combs her hair, feeds her bottles, and burps her. It's really sweet to see her be so cute to her doll. Aleksandra is just growing up to quickly, next she will be off with her own family.

Proud

My father in law is one amazing photographer I know I am totally bias to his work. Anyway he just finish his master at The School of Visual Arts in NYC and is now opening a gallery of all his work he is for sure onto greater and better things. Recently named a Finalist in Photo District News’ Photo Annual competition for his series “Winter Light: Coney Island.” That series was published in the May of 2010 in PDN’s Photo Annual issue and can be seen in the PDN Winner's Gallery or in the portfolios section .Photography & Editions, and now this lady here on her personal blog. I am just really proud off all his hard work also here is the link to his website here and blog. We love you grandpa and miss you dearly.

LP fireworks

We headed to Liberty Park to see the Pioneer Day Fireworks this year. It was lots of fun and Aleksandra really love being with her her Dad and our family. We enjoyed watching the fireworks behind a big Pine tree thanks Mike. I will blame this view on the fact that in NY that they do the fireworks on the water and nothing is in there way so Mike is not use to things blocking his view. So next year I will be in charge of finding us seats,. I guess that is what we get for going last minute.

I think Aleksandra is getting her ability to take pictures from her Dad.

Kylee, Alek's favorite cousin they are going to be so close!

Tamie and Terry, Terry is my older brother.

Really, could Mike make this picture anymore awkward???

Take two, really this was not much better. Doesn't help we are on a awkward slope.

Evan and Aleksandra laughing way hard. They love each other so much!

Mom I am hungry and Tired, and Aunt Hollie why the crap are you taking these photos of ME?

Evan practicing his Karate.

The aftermath of the Karate, poor Aleksandra.

All snuggled up and watching fireworks awww finally!

Pioneer Day 2010

Oh my Heck, it's flippin official I am a Mormon whether I like it or not. I have fought the good fight and resisted this Pioneer day Parade ever year. I always looked at this day as a great day off a day to sleep in, to not deal with the crowds. But now that I have a child I find myself doing everything I swore I told myself I would never do (oh wait I can't swear I am Mormon)!

Well either way it was a great way to honor our Military, thanks to all the brave men and women serving our country! (We are proud of you Ethan Plater, we keep you in our prayers)

We did however got ksl seating thanks to Jessica (we love her) and didn't have to save our seats which was the most amazing thing ever! And then to top it off Ksl gave us, I mean Aleksandra free creamies to cool us down during the parade.

My baby and I are some what of a celebrity in our social circle. To say the least everyone loves to stare at us, but don't worry we love the attention!

The girls and I such good friends, couldn't ask for any better people in my life! Oh and Katie Wasson in the back ground cooling off in the shade, love her!

Daddy and baby on the parade route with the ksl booth behind them.

Marc and Dad being nerds!

Grace and Aleksandra so tired out from the parade they both past out right away and fell asleep the whole walk home.

I do admit the whole Pioneer Day was a fun experience and I am glasd we went. I will probably to it next year all in the name of my child. But if she ever ask me to buy her a Pioneer bonnet that is were I draw the line!

Problem

Hi my name is Hollie and I have a Hoarding obsession.

It may not look to bad, but I always say I am going to use these stupid jars and never do.

Worst part is, now I have passed this awful hoarding to my offspring. She hoards her pacifiers in her crib ever chance she gets.

Poor Aleksandra is going to end up an old Lady who dies alone in her own trash, the trash she couldn't ever let go because of me! So sorry Aleksandra ahead of time!

-Side note I threw away these bottles shortly after this blog post!

Heart is full

After reading this blog tonight I had to go and wake my daughter up and just hold her tight.

http://patrickandashley.blogspot.com/

Deal of the Day

Yes I am quite proud of myself. Mike and I have been saving up for a fancy stroller, the stroller of my dreams and then I was in kid to kid and this Bob Revolution stroller caught my eye. I took a double take and ran to it, as did four other people. I threw Aleksandra in it and started strolling around the store before anybody else could claim this stroller (yes I got many evil eyes) before I decided what I was going to do. I knew this stroller was a fancy one, so I checked how much they where selling it for and I braced for the sticker shock, 75. Wow for a Bob stroller they usually retail in the four hundreds, and I also had a 25 dollar off coupon in my bag, man I am so cheap! I hurried up and called Mike and he said grab it he said we could re sale this one (make a profit) and then get the Phil and Ted stroller the stroller of my dream or maybe fall in love with this one and keep the extra money for savings. Who know what I will end up doing but I am pretty lucky to have stumbled upon this piece.

Greek night

All the girls at greek night, don't let Reece fool you my eyes are opened!

The girls playing together, and aleksandra pretending to be king kong!

To say the least I had to work out extra hard at the gym after these yummy goodness called a little slice of Heaven that Cindy brought to the party!

My tradition Greek salad I made, I was quite proud even with homemade dressing include.

Camilla created this amazing greek dessert called, baklava.

Spanikopita, greek for yummy spinach madness! Camilla is made to stay home and cook all day!

Jessica's to die for greek pizza, it had olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, chicken, onions, and cheese on the pizza and topped with an amazing yogurt dressing.

The beautiful spread for the night!

We really have a great group of friends everyone is always willing to throw a party, and always willing to make something delicious! This month we had a Greek night and everyone made something greek and really made the night really fun. It is always fun with good food and laughter in between the chowing down of our food. Life can't get better best friends!

KSL

Oh ya, it pays to have friends in high places!

Grateful

Always around this time of year well July 16th to be exact I am always so grateful for my life. 5 years ago I had a scary car accident nothing super major but enough to remind me the important things in life and how grateful I am for everything in my life.

Around this time in my life I always love to re evaluate my life and make sure I am still on course on all the things I wanted in life and all the things I wanted to change in life when this accident happened. I remember when I was laying in the hospital I had had my Mom write a list of goals I wanted to work on since I was pretty much stuck for the next 6 months. I look back at that list often and use it as an outline to life and make sure that I am always sticking true to my goal list. Because I find that right there in that moment in life I was so close to HF that my list was so pure and it was dedicated to all the things that my life needs at all times.

Life can be taken from us so fast and all I want to be know for is how much I loved, served, helped, my relationship with HF, how happy I was, how much of a hard worker I was, how much I loved my husband,how much I loved Aleksandra, how much I love my parents and brothers and sisters, how may great relationships I have with friends, how I countined to strength my covenants daily. I can only work on myself everyday and I know that even if it was gone tomorrow which I hate to think about, but if it happened I know I lived life the way I would live it if I knew it was about to end in a week and that is all that matters.

I am truly grateful for the experience 5 years ago because it has strengthened me, it has made me a better person. It has taught me what relationships really matter. It lead me to my amazing husband Mike with out this silly accident I would of never met Mike (thanks Lindsay). Everything really does happen for a reason no matter how extreme or how weird something may seem.

Shoreline Trail

Top of Shoreline Trail, so beautiful.

Sunset

Babies bed time (maybe both babies)

Such a great friend, and cute Grace in the Moby,

Mike hating the heat and the hike, such a city boy!

Love this photo, Katie looks so happy!

What a cute family.

A even cuter family, ha ha just kidding.

Such a great hike, and such a beautiful sunset. I really enjoyed myself and it was a way to get some physical activity that included the whole family and friends which was a great change. Thanks for the support Mike, Aleksandra and the Wassons! Baby got to sleep and really enjoyed herself! Mike grumbled about how hot it was, (go figure)! It was a great success.