We have been enjoying the lazy days of summer--although last week did not seem very lazy with getting the house and yard ready for the luncheon after Dawson's blessing, visiting with famliy, preparing my relief society lesson, planning pack meeting, and soforth. But we have been having a lot of fun, too. One of the girls' favorite things to do in the heat is to get out the slip 'n' slide. It is so funny to watch Olivia doing "cool tricks" and then Aubrey timidly trying to mimick her reckless sister.
Here they were showing me that they could make a "rainbow" of water if they stepped on the hose thing at the side of the slip 'n' slide.
The three amigos:
Can you see the "makeovers" that the girls gave each other? Their cheeks both had orange circles on them. :)
The Princess Peanut--this is first thing in the morning wearing jammies and her crown--Olivia actually stole the camera and took this one.
The Princess Peanut on her throne (pun intended) :)
She looks so happy to be going potty. Don't let that fool you. She's only hamming it up for the camera. In reality the whole process is not going very well, and it usually takes some fighting, I mean persuading, to get her to try--after which she has had very little success. Surprisingly, even princess underwear have not been enough of an incentive to get things going (no pun intended).
David, aka the King of Free-Ninety-Nine, scored a free playhouse for the girls from someone whose lawn he mows.
We put it in the border of the yard where all our fruit trees are planted--I think it is so cute.
It is a great skill David has, this getting things for free. I have decided that the biggest part if having lots of connections, which he does because he is so outgoing. The other part of the equation is not minding re-using other people's unwanted old stuff. We are all pretty good at that--clothes, furniture, backyard play things, other toys, electronics, motorized vehicles, you name it we have gotten it--for free. One man's junk is another's treasure, right?
The girls sure love it!
Aubrey after a breakfast of toast and freezer jam--who could resist this "sweet" face?
Dawson's first bath at home--Olivia is right there for everything that goes on with her baby brother--he is almost always the first one she greets in the morning when she wakes up.
To be honest, I hate this picture of me, but I love that it is with my cute little man!
David had so much fun putting Aubrey in this pot when she was a baby that he had to recreate it with Dawson. He has already grown so much that he wouldn't fit in it now!
Olivia was supposed to keep an eye on Dawson for a minute while I ran downstairs to help Aubrey on the potty, and this is what I found when I came back up--crazy big sister!
The poor kid on another similar occasion. The girls think he is their little doll, so it was only natural for Olivia to put him in their doll's pack 'n' play. I think his facial expression is saying, "Seriously, Mom? You really want to leave me alone with this chick?"
Speaking of playing baby doll...Aubrey was the baby and Olivia was the mommy this morning--apparently they found one of Aubrey's old binkies--too bad she never took them when she was a baby and now she thinks it's cool...
Just a little taste of our daily life!
I couldn't catch it, but Dawson smiles and laughs more for my mom than anyone else. It is so cute that he already loves his Grandma Lori so much.
Miranda was loving on Dawson, too. I wasn't expecting her to be able to come, so when she walked out it was a great surprise.
Just about the cutest little boy ever!
David being goofy waiting for my mom to notice that he was wearing her sunglasses.
I couldn't resist getting a shot of Josh stoking the fire, as he always had a reputation in our family as a pirot.
Uncle Josh said he'd show the girls how to roast a marshmallow--I thought it was really cute.
They couldn't get enough of their Aunt Helen. I love this picture of them together! She is such a sweetheart and we all love her to death!
The little man on his big day! I couldn't decide which pictures were the cutest, so I included them all. You can see his dimple a little bit in this one. By the way, Gram Picanco made this adorable outfit and a matching one for his little cousin, Levi, who was also blessed the same day in our ward. It was special to get to do that together and to have so many loved ones there to support us! 
Aubrey wouldn't cooperate and get in this next picture, but it is a cute one of Olivia with Dawson. They really do love each other already. I'm thankful that so far our kids love each other and get along pretty well. I'm sure it won't be long until she thinks he's a pest, but right now Dawson is Olivia's favorite person.
Daddy gave a beautiful blessing to Dawson from our Heavenly Father. I'm grateful that David upholds his priesthood so he can do these things for our family.
One more happy face picture:
Dawson is a wonderful blessing in our family. He is the most content baby, already smiling like crazy, and he has a way of making us all rally around him just to love on him. I seriously pinch myself every day to make sure he is for real, because sometimes I just can't believe I got such a good baby! It probably won't last forever, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts! 
