Rowynn's Photo Shoot

Really, I was just bored and she looked adorable, so I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pics! The cute little outfit she got from Nana Carolyn.

Dirt, Bugs, & Marshmallows

Last weekend we went up to Blacksmith Fork to do some camping with friends. We had a pretty cool spot next to the "river" (I use the term loosely) where we could get right into it and the kids could play. It was hotter than hot, even up in the mountains that weekend, so the river was a nice diversion. We had GIANT marshmallows, dirt everywhere, the smell of a campfire that permeated us so deep I think my cells still smell smokey, and a good deal of fun.

(looking across the water from our campsite)

The water was SO cold, but we got used to it fast. David just jumped right in a few times...

(dirty from a 4-wheeler ride up the mountain)

(Bryar is ready for some marshmallows!)

Adventures in Cooking...

So, those who know me well know my complete aversion to any green, leafy, grown in the dirt, or otherwise "healthy" foods. I realize this is a problem. I have never had any real health problems due to my eating habits, but I'm sure something will sneak up on me eventually. And I need my girls to eat well, too, so I was trying to think of a way to get our veggie on. And while wandering through Kohl's the other day I found this!

Hooray! I picked it up five bucks and set out the next day to buy the ingredients. I started with carrots, butternut squash, and bananas (we really like bananas here, anyway). Then they had to be pureed. That is something I have never done before. I didn't even know we actually owned a vegetable peeler... And while steaming the carrots I got burned OW! The squash turned out so nice, and I was so proud of myself , I took a picture of it!

The carrots were not as willing, and after about 10 minutes I had kind of mostly pureed orange stuff...

But anyways I measured them all out and threw them in the freezer for future use. The following Sunday we used the carrot puree to make turkey burgers, and they were delicious! Still could taste the carrots, but it wasn't overwhelming. Then I attempted Mac' n Cheese with butternut squash. It was really good, defiantly a lot better than the kind out of a box. I made Bryar some yogurt pops with a berry mix, but she didn't take to them...

Other than attempting to cook, the last few weeks have seemed really busy. I have one class this month (two next month), working PT at the ODEE World kiosk, and chasing after these girls while trying to keep some semblance of order in the house is enough to keep me moving. David is working hard as ever, and then comes home and helps out around the house and with the girls.

And speaking of awesome husbands... My David won us tickets to the Nickelback concert in October♥ And then I found out they are coming with Three Days Grace, and I was so excited I had to restrain myself from jumping up and down in a public place. He also won tickets to a Great White concert here in Ogden, and we went to that last Friday night. It was a great night out with dancing and loud music and ears ringing...

Bryar is still enjoying playing outside in the water, and when her little splash pad broke Mam-ma Jill bought her a new one. A better one!

We have plans to go camping this weekend with some friends. It will be the first time we have gone camping in about 3 years, so we are really looking forward to it. Should be fun...

Summer Time...

It's summer time here in Utah. Not as "lazy" as summer used to be, but we are still enjoying it. Seems to be going by awfully fast...

The newest member of our family, Miss Rowynn, is doing so well and growing too fast. She insists upon being held, but doesn't really want to snuggle; she just wants help sitting or standing straight up. The picture above was taken about the middle of May...

And, of course, Bryar is enjoying her new role as big sister. She is always very concerned about where "baby" is and must always give Rowynn a kiss good night.

I took the girls to have their pictures taken at the end of May. David picked out their outfits...

So sweet...

Bryar just HAD to have her picture taken with this rose...

June 16th was David and my 4th anniversary. We decided that we would go on a date, but decided not to get each other presents. So of course David comes home from work with a bouquet of flowers as big as Bryar...

I'm so lucky...

Daddy & Rowynn like to snuggle

Bryar has been enjoying the pool David bought her and the splash pad I got her for her birthday.

She even insisted that I join in the fun...

She just loves the camera!

Road Trip!

In the early part of June Mom and I took the girls to visit my grandparents in Haines, OR. G'ma and Papa Toney, as I call them, seemed happy to get to see the girls. I really enjoyed myself, I love visiting with my family and Haines is one of my favorite places anywhere.

Here we are with G'ma and Papa. My G'ma Toney is one of the most elegant women I know, and her recent (and ongoing) battle with cancer has only served to prove to me that she is also one of the strongest. And I just love Papa to pieces...

While in Oregon Mom and I took the girls to the "Eastern Oregon Interpretative Center" (Oregon Trail museum). I have always loved visiting museums, this one in particular. And as you can see, Bryar enjoyed herself as well. She climbed right up on the displays to make friends with the animals...

There is a small re-creation of a 19th century gold mine outside the museum...

View from the trail outside the museum. Very, very faintly you can see the wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail on the floor of the valley...

G'ma and Papa's front porch is great! It's big and there is a swing and a little table and chairs... A perfect place to spend a summer evening!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the story of the Killdeer.

The Killdeer is a bird that likes to build it's nests in gravel. Any old gravel will do. Even the gravel driveway in front of G'ma and Papa's house. Yes, right there on the ground only a few feet from the road.

 Since this is not a very safe place to build a nest, the Killdeer mommy bird has a cool trick to keep her babies safe. She pretends to have a broken wing and runs away from the nest in order to draw predators away from the eggs. You should have heard the racket she made when I took this picture of the eggs. She tried to attack my feet...

The poor mommy bird tried so hard, but the morning after I took these pictures the eggs were gone...

All in all, it was a great vacation. And I got to introduce another generation to what my cousins and I dubbed "Sherwood Forest" when we were still small...

Introducing...

On May 5th, 2010 we welcomed our second little girly, Rowynn Averi Bahns. She was born at 2:29 pm at 6lbs 15oz and 19 inches long, Everything about the delivery went very smoothly and she was born in perfect baby health.

Daddy and Rowynn

Pretty as a little rose...

Mommy & Rowynn

Our Family

G'ma Bonnie and Bryar enjoy the new baby

Ready to go home...