Happy 1st Birthday Lindey!!

This was when we were singing happy birthday to her. I just love the expression like, uhh... whats going on??

ooh that cupcake was good! I knew she was totally going to go for it :) Unlike Shanna who didn't really want to touch it at first! Shows how completely different 2 children from the same parents can be!

Grandpa and Grandma Merrill's 3 grandchildren..

Sweet baby Aaron with Grandpa and...

Grandma!!

5 generation photo, from left to right, me, Lindey, Great Grandma Ames, Papa (my grandpa), Shanna and my mom.

Lindey got her very own baby doll for her birthday and it was just the cutest thing ever to watch! She wanted that baby out of the package desperately and she was so excited to finally get to hold it she kissed it and hugged it! :)

WARNING: Lots of content. You may be here awhile...

Well here I am again. I suppose it is time to come back from my sabbatical..Not that I was ever the best at posting anyway. For those of you who don't remember me, I am Carrissa.. ;) Anyway, we took a very fun trip to Idaho and Utah. We went to Idaho for 1 week. And then Eric went home and the girls and I traveled on to Utah with my parents where we stayed with my Aunt Ellen for another week. Since pictures tell a lot and I swear my brain and mouth (or fingers in this case) don't often work real well together, here is a little of our adventure through a TON of pictures:

Utah:

My beautiful family on my mothers side. We are almost all here minus my hubby and My aunts hubby.

Lindey enjoying a ride on Uncle Jared's shoulders

This was the first time Shanna had ever ridden on rides before. Here she is awaiting the start of a ride at Lagoon

Hogle Zoo:

Alice and Shanna became fast friends!

The tigers were real active today. You can see him up close! :)

Temple Square:

My dashing soon-to-be missionary brother :)

This is my mom's uncle Gary and the moment he walked in the door and spotted Lindey they were inseparable! Here he is talking to her outside. It was so sweet to watch!

Yes, this is my mom with a huge line of clips clasped together from one ear to the other. Who did it? My dad... Why? Well, it was very, very late and everyone was beginning to feel a little loopy... My mom may never speak to me after putting this picture up. But I couldn't resist. It was too funny! I love you mom!!

Idaho Falls:

Ready for church at Grandma Hellewell's

Chasing the ducks with cousins, Hunter and Cedar

Feeding the ducks

Jackson Hole:

The aftermath of a long week and hardly no naps. My girls were wiped out and exhausted but we had the best of time with family and friends! It was so worth the drive and busy, busy schedule!

Projects

We have been having quite a few baby showers recently and so I decided to learn a few new crocheting patterns I picked out from etsy.com... Love that site, by the way!! Anyway, here are a few that have kept me pretty busy lately:

Girl (size 3-6 month) shoes. In this photo they aren't completely finished. A button was added to the center of the flowers on the car ride over to the baby shower :) A HUGE thanks to my mom for sewing the buttons on, because I ran out of time. LOVE HER!!!

Oh and I apologize for the quality of my camera shots, they are a bit bright.

(below) Boy (0-3 month) hat with brim. Lindey is so nicely modeling it! :)

(below) Boy (size 3-6 month) "bucaneer" booties

Differences and Similarities

Its been fun and interesting to see the differences between my girls. Shanna was always quick with a smile no matter who you were. Lindey is showing more of a "sober" nature, the kind that looks at you as if looking into your soul, before choosing to smile, or not to. Though she is still quite the little smiler at times! She also was more of a grunter when she first started laughing, this last month her laugh started sounding more like a laugh...Here are a couple of videos.

Same outfits :) (and hair bows)

Shanna 5 months

Lindey 7 months

Birch Bay Trip

My parents invited Eric, the girls and I on a fun little getaway up north near Canada at a little place called Birch Bay. We had a really nice time swimming, walking along the beach, and just being together.

My sister and I jumping in the swimming pool!

The ferry ride over

Lindey is quite the little water baby! She loved the pool and she kicked like a little froggie. It made us all laugh. Oh and I apologize for Shanna's screaming in the background for the first 30 seconds...Just turn your volume down lower! :)

Shanna drew this little person in the sand and it was too cute. I had to share!

GREAT NEWS!!!

I have been dying to shout the news, but it seems that its okay for me to now :) These very favorite people of mine are expecting a baby in October!!! I am so excited I could jump out my window!! Don't worry though, I only live in a one story house so the damage would be minimal :) Jamie is 12 weeks along and due October 13th! You may have all heard but in case you hadn't, I couldn't help but spread the news!

Innocence

My aunt Kathleen gave us these WAY cute sailor dresses. We LOVE love them! When I opened the boxes Shanna wanted to immediately try them on. She is such a girl :) She even wanted to sleep in her new pretty white shoes :) I let her..Why not? Thanks Aunt Kathy! You are the best:)

I had to include this one because she has such an expressive face :)

Before...

...And after :)