One week before Jane was born, Audrey and Kate headed back to school, so we of course did our traditional back to school festivities.
Audrey and Kate go to a charter school, so they get to wear these cute uniforms.
Simon didn’t want to be left out of the photo ops and really how could I refuse him when he looked so awesome in his high water Lightning McQueen jammies.
This is Audrey and Kate’s first year of going to the same school and it has been so fun listening to them make plans of meeting each other “on the bridge” at recess.
In July, we headed to Edwards, Colorado (near Vail) for our Edwards family reunion. We rented a condo and 26 of us stayed there together.
We had so much fun with our own little Amazing Race and Minute to Win it games.
The women-folk got some much needed R&R with some delicious breakfast, pedicures, and shopping.
A few weeks later, we headed to Stanley, Idaho for the Baldwin family reunion. Each family stayed in our own little cabins. We spent most of our time outdoors which was kind of tricky with temps in the 30′s at night and 80′s during the day.
This picture was taken right behind our cabin. We had the most beautiful view.
We spent one day at Red Fish lake and had so much fun playing in the water and canoeing around.
Somehow we talked Audrey into doing a dive off the dock and swimming back to shore. We told her we would canoe right along beside her in case she was tired. She got her goggles on and got all ready to go. She dove in and then came up screaming because of the freezing water and jumped right back into the canoe.
She inspire Mason and Uncle Stephen to dive in too.
Okay. It’s been almost four months since Jane was born, so we have some major catching up to do. Some of it even comes from our pre-Jane family. So, bear with us as some major bloggerhea is about to take place.
Audrey and Kate participated in the Provo tri on Saturday. When I first told them about the triathlon, Kate told me that she wasn’t going to do it. Audrey was game, but Kate was quite emphatic about her decision. So, not wanting to force Kate into anything, I only signed Audrey up…. until Kate saw that Audrey was getting a new suit that would work better for all three events. Then, she said, “I think Audrey’s right. I’ll be sad if I don’t do it. So, I guess I’ll do it.” Luckily, there was still time to sign her up. Being the nice Mom I am, I told her she could do it and get a new swim suit, but if she whined at all at the race, we would put her old suit on and take the new one back.
Kate did really good not to whine until we put on her swim cap – which she usually loves. I think she was just getting nervous about things and it was coming out in the form of complaints about the swim cap. I threatened the whole swim suit thing again and she snapped back into shape.
The temperature outside was mid 60′s. The temperature of Utah Lake averages 60 degrees this time of year. I’m pretty sure, it was no where close to that.
Originally, Scott and I were both planning to swim with the girls but once we got there we convinced ourselves that one parent (Scott) would be enough and that way they other one (me) could stay with Simon and take pictures. Audrey started out great. Look at her awesome freestyle in those pictures above.
Apparently, Kate was having a hard time getting started in the frigid water, so Scott picked her up and put her on her back. I had just enough time to take this picture of her screaming before I saw Audrey begin to come back toward Scott and grab onto him because the cold was finally getting to her. So, I ran back to the stroller, stripped down to my swim suit, ditched Simon, and jumped in the water. It was a good thing I went out there. Scott had already run eight miles that morning and was feeling like he’d be lucky to finish the swim, let alone helping two panicking girls. They both finished with a backstroke – well, more like floating on their backs and kicking, but hey, they finished.
While I helped them dry off and transition to bikes, Scott dried off himself and ran off after them.
The girls came back looking great and full of energy. Scott, however was spent! Audrey got back a little before Kate, so I sent her off on the run and then followed along with Kate a few seconds later.
Audrey finished her run a couple of minutes before Kate and was able to cheer for Kate as she crossed the finish line.
I was so proud of both of them. They worked so hard and did awesome coming in, in the last two spots.
I think Kate may have been the youngest one to do it. They rocked!
On June 4, 2011, our Audrey girl got baptized! I can’t believe she’s old enough for this.
Before we left for her baptism, we presented her with a few gifts. We gave her, her own set of scriptures. I made her a quilt with some words embroidered on it that were in a song she and Kate sang at her baptism. And Scott gave her this sweet little corsage.
She played the song, “When I am Baptized,” on the piano and she and Kate sang it together. Here’s a video of them singing it at home.
After the baptism, we headed to the park for a picnic with family and then finished off the day having birthday cake for Grandma Jean’s birthday.
