Music lessons at Grandma Hunt's House

On the Fourth, in between all of our many activities, we visited Grandma and Grandpa Hunt. I just thought these were some fun pictures of Sophia playing piano/xylophone on my mom's lap. My mom was having as much or maybe even more fun than Sophie was — just look at her face in the two pictures below. 

These next two were actually at the Rotary Park before the sun set, while we were waiting to watch the fireworks. She's such a silly goose, and a cutie all at the same time. 

Little swimmers: Not talking about the diapers

Sophia and Brynlie had tons of fun playing in the froggie pool Grandma Hunt bought for them. Both of them were so cute splashing around in their little swimsuits. And both girls got some good loves from their daddies, too.

This is the froggie pool in near-full view. Where Sophie's right hand is, there's actually a thing that spits water up from the hose, making a little fountain, which comes from the frogs ... I'm not exactly sure what you'd call it ... perhaps I'll just say the fountain is like the frog continually spitting from under his tongue.

Sophia was super attached to her dolphin toy she got at Hanauma Bay in Hawaii. I don't think she hardly ever put it down while we were swimming. She's the same way in the tub, has to have either one of her dolphins or her rubber duckie. Always.

I had a bunch of pictures of them in the pool together, but they were all accidentally deleted during the transfer process, so these are pretty much a good collaboration of what was left.

Pretty cute pictures of both girls, at least that's my opinion — an opinion no one better disagree with unless they are looking to get socked in the stomach...

Pionerd Day Week

Before I begin briefly detailing our Pioneer Day adventures, I snapped this photo of Kyle and Jordon's boy, Isaac the day of the children's parade on the park. It ran the week following the 24th in The Richfield Reaper as the front page feature picture with the title "Leaving a Legacy."

Jordon was in town for a few weeks around that time with Isaac and their daughter Attison, and we spent some time with them and Jordon's family. It was great, especially for Annie to see Jordon and the two kids.

We don't see the Cecils as often as we'd like to, but it was fun to see how big those kids are getting and hang out with Jordon — Kyle, you missed out, man. I missed you.

And speaking of friends, Annie had her high school reunion the afternoon of the 23rd — it's been something she has looked forward to since my five year reunion never really happened two years ago. She is a nut about keeping up with people in different ways, and she loves talking about how much fun she had with her friends in high school.

Her reunion was great, and pictures and details are up on her classes blog —  

classof2003sshs.blogspot.com

And now for the main course — Pioneer Day festivities in Monroe.

The 24th always begins a day early in Monroe with the children's parade and the city barbecue on the city park. Grandma and Grandpa Colton met us on Main Street by the library for the parade, and fifteen minutes later we found ourselves wandering over to the other end of the park to get in line for the barbecue, which consists of slow-roasted shredded beef, frog-eye salad (that's what my mom always calls it, I have no idea if anyone else does or not), baked beans, a roll, watermelon (Monroe City had 1,000 lbs. of it this year), and water piped in through hoses — delicious.

 

Sophia loved the water, and kept stealing Grandpa Colton's from his styrofoam cup. She got some, anyway, between what went in her mouth and what went down the front of her it's hard to tell how much she actually drinks. Anyway, it was silly to watch her stealing sips from Grandpa until she decided she wanted to take a bite of the cup with a drink.

Luckily both Annie and her mom noticed she had taken a chunk out of the cup (I was to busy photographing everything in sight), and got it out of her mouth before she had a chance to swallow it. 

The barbecue was fun, but the parade the next morning was hot and long. It seemed like it wasn't too much different than recent Pioneer Day parades — full of horses, John Deere tractors, restored and not-so-restored classic cars, high school activities and Rep. McIff.

Though I can't say much for the parade, Annie and Sophia were both looking great, as always. Annie in the above picture go this new shirt in Orem just a few weeks before when she went up there with her mom. Sophia, in the photo below, enjoyed most of the parade with Grandpa Colton wherever they could find a little bit of shade.

After the parade we went to the park where there are a bunch of activities, lunch and people you only see once a year. We saw quite a few people we don't ever see except for on the park again this year, and Sophia got to pet a dog some lady had at the park — she loves dogs, and giggles when she even gets near them, let alone petting them.

The night was capped off with the town's firework display at the South Sevier Middle School football field. We met up there with Jordon, Beau Dunn, Chealsea Price and plenty of other people from Annie's reunion. After the fireworks, Annie was getting Sophie to give everyone high fives. Then, as Annie and Sophia were saying goodbye to Jordon, Isaac and Attison, Isaac bent down and kissed Sophie right on the lips. My baby's first kiss – some fireworks after the fireworks, you might say.

During the middle of the afternoon we went to my mom's house and Sophia and Brynlie went swimming together in a froggie pool my mom bought for them. I thought I'd post up those pictures separately, just for fun.

Improvised tooth brushing

Recently Annie bought Sophie a tube of baby tooth and gum cleaner and a little green toothbrush with the softest bristles we could find.

Anyone who knows Sophie at all, knows that she does not sit still — unless she is sleeping — so getting her teeth brushed is sometimes a game of improvised juggling and brushing for Annie — and for me, when I get a chance to help out with the tooth brushing.

Interestingly enough, Sophie loves her toothbrush and the way it tickles her gums. Unless she is super ornery, she giggles and giggles through the brushing while meandering around on our bed with Annie trying to keep the brush in her mouth doing it's job.

Sophie's teeth are coming in really fast, too. She, at last count, has five (almost six) teeth — two on bottom, three (almost four) on top. Her choppers are coming in so quickly that she is in her terrible teething mood almost every day right now. And she is in the habit of biting everything from Annie's knuckles and legs to my shirts. 

Even when she's ornery and getting teeth in though she has her shining moments when she just laughs and laughs and smiles about everything. She is a mommy-and-a-daddy's girl, depending on what time of day it is.   

Also, I'm still trying to work through a mess of stuff from the past month. I'm full of excuses, but most of them surround the fact that we don't have the internet at home. That makes it difficult for me to set aside time around work to sit at the office and blog. I'm working on some spectacular posts and have some awesome pictures of Sophie from recent weeks that I would love to share.

Look forward to it. It may be a month or two, but it will come.

In Dependents Day

Sophia's first Independence Day started bright and early with the Richfield parade on Main Street and a healthy dose of candy.

Sophia loved the floats and the horses. Even though I was concentrating a lot of my efforts on getting some good shots for the Reaper I enjoyed being with Annie, Sophia and our families — Trent, Jessica and Ali; Chris, Sarah and Brynlie; Greg and my folks. 

It's yet another reason to love my line of work, I get paid to take pictures of a parade, which I very likely would have done anyway. Except because it's for my job, I get to use the company camera as well (it's a Nikon D-100 in case you were wondering) — even though I'm not too great with the details of using it yet.

After the parade we all walked from the Tobacco Pouch, which is the place we sat in front of, down the block to Ideal Dairy where we enjoyed some awesome ice cream-related treats. I went for the lime slush with ice cream while Annie indulged in the excellent soft serve twist cone — chocolate AND vanilla.

For lunch we went to the festivities on the Central Valley Park — or whatever they call it — with all of Annie's family, minus her dad who was in California on a fire. It was a good opportunity for all of the little cousins — Ali, Sophia and Kate — to get together. We're quick learning that until Kate gets bigger and fights back that Sophie's going to be the bully of the group.

I was, again, taking pictures for the paper at the park, and got this shot. It made the front page the next week and it's going to be one of those shots everyone brings up when they think of articles I've done.

That night we enjoyed the fireworks in Richfield from the Rotary Park where not too many people go. We pulled up blankets and chairs with my parents, Greg, Annie's mom, Trent, Jessica, Ali and us of course; and enjoyed the show from leftfield, literally.

That next Sunday we also lit off a package of fireworks Annie bought for me as a surprise at my parents' house. It was right after a massive downpour that flooded my mom's lawn a bit, so it was slightly cooler than I would have preferred, but screaming fountains of light and fire made it a fun cap to that night and the Independence Day weekend.