double the fun and double the one!

we just can't believe our little girls turned one yesterday--and what a year it's been! although there were some downs in the begining, the ups have always overshadowed them and we have come away from this year feeling incredibly blessed. we have two adorable little girls who amaze us on a daily level with their progress, and we couldn't be happier. we celebrated a week early because my sister and her little boy were in town, so of course we wanted them at the party! it was an ice cream party, and i must say, the girls enjoyed their first go at real sugar:)

the set up--it was a warm, lovely evening in jordan's parents backyard...

tilly looking ready to party.
tilly practicing for "the real thing" with an ice cream cone bubble blower...

little avery
singing happy birthday...look at the confusion on avery's face...
i knew that if i put a cake in front of the girls, they wouldn't really know what to do with it. so, we decided to make them little ice cream cone cupcakes--these were perfect because the girls had a handle and, as you can see, they knew exactly what to do:)


jordan picking the grass out of tilly's frosting--perhaps we should have had them sitting on a table or something...
tilly
avery
after the clean up, we set the girls in these chairs and they were hilarious, swinging their little feet like they have been sitting in chairs their whole lives...(and aren't those sunsuits to die for? a good friend from california gave them to us at our shower and i have been waiting and waiting for them to fit!)
aunt lindsey, tucker, and girls... and this point the girls were done celebrating and ready for bed. i was right there with them:)

it turned out to be such a fun party, and we are so grateful to all who could make it, as well as all those who have sent birthday wishes our way! also, our good friend emily took the girls pictures recently, and as always, did a wonderful job-- go here to check out some of the pictures as well as the cute party invites she whipped up. this girl is amazing!

old news, new post...

ugh.  i just got finished telling my sister how much i loathe updating my blog with "old news."  but i guess that's what i get for waiting so long.  that, and the chore of having to upload a ba-jillion pictures all at once.  but it's all done in an effort to keep my blog followers satisfied:)  hope it works!

a couple of weeks ago we went to the hogle zoo in slc with aunt leah, aunt emlyn, and cousin millie.  we had a great time checking out all of the animals and the cool exhibits, but i would have to say the highlight of the trip was the yummy lunch we enjoyed in the cool shade:)

the girls and i in front of the huge metal elephant that plays "pop goes the weasel" (sounds like a tuba) and blows air out of his trunk.  

 taking a drink out of the lion's mouth.

that same week my mom and sister chris came out for a short visit.  it was so fun to have them here and to once again experience with them the magic that is j-dawgs.  if you have never been, i feel sorry for you.

the next day mom and i took the girlies to veteran's pool in provo.  they were pretty enthralled with watching everyone splash and play, as you can see.  they LOVE the bath, and this was like the bath times 100, so you can imagine how much they liked playing in the pool--err, you'll have to because i didn't take any pictures once we actually got in the water:)

mom and i also attended our ward temple session saturday morning and hit the provo farmer's market on the way home.  it was a fun time--but extremely hot!  and of course, my mom always brings some sort of treat for the girls when she visits--this time:  these adorable sunglasses from aunt linds.  we had to put them in a place where they wouldn't see them to get the pic.

our girls are growing like crazy!  in addition to sitting, they are rolling, eating pretty much everything we put into their little mouths, jumping like crazy in their jump ups, and our newest goal--teaching them to crawl.  yikes.  i know i will be sorry once they get the hang of it:)

tilly

avery in a daze...

the proof that the rolling is out of control... we will put avery to bed in a tight swaddle and then often walk in on this scene...she's so tricky!

the girls enjoying biter biscuits...i.e. sharpening their mini-razors (they each have two on bottom now:)

yes indeed, our girls are getting big and we love them more and more each day.  

oh, and jordan and i are doing well too:)

ew.

last july i looked like this... i know, doesn't help that i am standing next to such a cutie (my trainer from my mission).  while the girls' early arrival was totally unexpected and scary, i must say, i do not miss those sweltering summer days with not one, but two internal heaters... our hot day today reminded me of that...

p.s. my sweet husband swears he doesn't remember me this chubby--what blinding love!

independence weekend...

... beware the picture overload... but know that it could have been worse:)
we had such a fun time celebrating the 4th. provo has its freedom festival every year, which is one of the best in the nation, so there was plenty to do and see. on thursday the girls and i headed to a local park that they "turned into" ellis island. it was such a neat little experience. grandma perk (jordan's mom) took all of the grand kids on the this little tour that explained the promises the immigrants were to make in order to become a u.s. citizen. at the end of the little tour, we all took citizenship tests. i passed mine with flying colors--thank you fourth grade u.s. history! then we took the oath. it was all very well done.

grandma giving the tour around the flags...

our lady liberties with aunt jana...and as an aside can i just say i love the girls in these little stretchy shorts-- they make their legs look like little sausage links...mmm..

on friday a part of historic provo set up what they called "colonial days." they had people dressed up, displaying their wood work, paintings etc. the girls also scored some adorable little clothespin dolls which they, of course, thought were delicious.avery gagging herself with her dolltilly giving hers the once over before she sinks her gums into it

mr. and mrs. lincolnsome amazing sidewalk chalk drawings...yes, sidewalk chalk.that night we had a family potluck dinner at grandma and grandpa stutz's farm, set off some fireworks (compliments of the very fun aunt jana), and had a campfire with s'mores. it was a great way to spend the evening.the girls didn't let the fun of the evening throw off their sleeping schedule, they know what's good for them:)
on the 4th we ate breakfast down at the farm, attended our niece christina's baptism, and just hung out the rest of the afternoon. it was such a beautiful day for taking pictures, so we did:)
did i mention that grandma and grandpa's farm is just divine? this is their lovely grapevine tunnel...

avery perched...
and tilly too!

these close up shots of the girls' holiday garb are for my sister lindsey...

i love tilly's nonchalant look here...
and, these really have nothing to do with the weekend, but we just love these close ups of the girlies...


tilly looking into the sun
avers.

tilly
avery the goober. she was being so funny that day... whenever she would turn and see me she just got this cheesy grin on her face. we just love these girls, and look forward to celebrating many more 4ths to come!