Mule Days!

Makenzie, Henry, and I all went to Independence the week before Memorial Day to spend some time with my parents. We always have so much fun at Grandma and Grandpa Howe's house! My Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bob came to join us on Thursday for the Mule Days festivities in Bishop. We all had a delightful time!

Makenzie was attached to my dad's hip the entire week. It's pretty easy to want to be around someone who is willling to give you every tiny drop of his attention :)  You are such a good grandpa, daddy!

Playing on the trampoline

...and exploring the back yard.

As you can see, Makenzie has found a new favorite face to make for the camera.

My sweet chubby baby! I just love him!

Kenzie and Grandpa clapping and dancing to the music from the Mule Days parade.

Aunt Nancy

Cowboy Bob

The Mule Days parade is the longest non-motorized parade in the U.S. and probably the world because this years parade was an hour and a half long!!!  But it was still fun!

A close-up on the previous photo. A little crude, but I thought it was pretty clever :)

We went to the corals later to pet the horses and mules

We had such a wonderful week with you, Mom and Dad! Thank you!

Ally's Shower

So this post is pretty late but better late than never, right? My wonderful sister-in-law, Allyson, is going to have a baby girl any day now. She was actually due on May 24 but her dear little girl, Lillian, is just taking her sweet time. Here are some pictures of her baby shower in the Sylmar ward.

The BEAUTIFUL mother-to-be

Carole threw the party and did an amazing job!

Merilyn

Aunt Diana and Cousin Jen

Books! Somebody knows Allyson!

This little bear talks (its mouth actually moves!) and it lifts up its little blanket to play peek-a-boo with you. Pretty stinkin' cute!

Lot's of people pitched in to get a car seat and pack-n-play. 

 I just had to sneak this little girl in here :)

Allyson made the adorable "thank-you" magnets as party favors.

Isn't she gorgeous?!!! Congratulations Ally and Jay! We are all so excited for you and love you so much!

Daddy Daughter

This little girl LOVES her dad. Every morning when I get her out of bed, she squirms out of my arms, starts to giggle and excitingly says "Daddy!" pointing toward our room or bathroom depending on where he is. When he gets home from work, it is the same thing. She stops whatever she is doing, giggles and runs to the door saying "Daddy, Daddy!" She loves to cuddle with him and play with him and, of course, it goes both ways :)

These are just some cute pictures of them watching a video on Shane's phone.

One morning Makenzie brought this book to Shane, Dr. Suess's "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff." She asked him to read it and when he was done she asked him to read it again. So he did, and again and again and again. She asked him to read it to him 12 time. Good thing it is a fairly short book... Shane was such a good sport and read it just as enthusiastically all 12 times.

Cousins

Emma, Katie, and her girls all came to California a couple of weeks ago, hoping to be here for Henry's birth. Even though they had to leave before he came we still had lot's of fun together. I love my family so much!

Zachary set up this awesome contraption for the girls to slide down. He must have spent hours out there with them sliding down this hill. He is such a wonderful uncle!

Sometimes Kenzie thinks that she has to bend down to talk to Mallory. It is really cute.

Mommy's turn :) Too bad it was so blurry!

We went to the science center in LA and the girls went into the hurricane simulator. 

I don't think they would be smiling like this in a real hurricane!

I love this girl so much! And I even love how she NEVER will look at the camera when you beg and plead her to.

These girls are just so adorable! I miss them so much!