In case you missed the story...

Maycee turned 2!!!

Last Sunday we had the family over for cupcakes (Maycee's favorite) and ice cream.

I didn't do a big party or anything, just kept it simple....

This was Maycee's BIG cupcake with the candles on it that she got all for herself.

She loved hearing every body sing "Happy Birthday" to her....

She had a hard time blowing the candles out. It took her several attempts.

HOORAY! She was so proud of herself.

Had a good turn out I thought...

(Nice Ricky)

Got to love those wild sisters of mine!

Is anybody noticing the trampoline in the back round in a lot of these pictures? NO MAT!!!

Cute guys!

We had a good game of frisbee going for a while...

Then it was time for gifts.....

They were simple..... at first.....

The "other" Brimhalls (Chad and Caskie) gave her a cute Fancy Nacy boa

a cute book

a magic wond with a star (Shown above)

a crown

and

a necklace (also above)

Mom and Dad (Blake and I) gave her

A coloring book

crayons

and

a new swim suit

simple right??

Well then Grandpa Mickelson decided to whip out the big guns... LITERALLY!!

Maycee had the choice between three 12 gage shot guns!!!

Grandpa said, "Maybe daddy can help you choose one."

So with a wave of her wand HER gun was chosen.

You see a few months ago Blake had been asking if he could get a shot gun. He had been asking my dad a lot of questions about which one was best and blah blah blah...

I received a phone call a few days later. My mom told me not to let Blake buy a gun. She said my dad was ready to down size..... a little. He wanted to give one to "Maycee" for her birthday.... Wink Wink! Don't tell Blake!

None the less Blake was very happy for Maycee's gift.

On her real Birthday, the 24th, she received a few more gifts...

Uncle Brandon and Aunt Allee stopped by with a pictures book (cute)

and her nursery leader came by with balloons and m &m's

AND...

Blake couldn't resist...

He got her one of these....

SPOILED LITTLE GIRL!!!

She has no idea!

We were invited to a little party for a boy down the street that same day. Had to get pictures of these girls in their swim suits.

LOOK AT THOSE ROLLS!

It was a great Birthday Celebration. Thanx to everyone :)

We won't be able to top it next year but, WHO CARES! You only turn 2 once right??

If I think this is bad then...

I am probably in trouble. If taking family pictures is this hard with 2 children I am definitely in a for a treat when more come along.

A couple of days ago I decided it was a good day to go get some pictures of The "Blake Brimhall" Family. Nothing fancy just with my digital camera and some help from family. Just something I could put up on my wall that is some what put together and cute. So we set out to the temple to give the 'shoot' a shot!

Disclaimer: I am not going to post all the pictures but I do want you to get the picture (no pun intended). So if you get bored, sorry.

It was a joint effort really. I ask my mom to come to keep the girls entertained and smiling.

I didn't dress the girls till we were at the temple so there clothes wouldn't get wrinkly while sitting in the car seats.

Here you can see all of us working to get them ready. I'm in the back round, bent over dressing Lydia.

Meet the photographer...... Ruth Mickelson!

She is not a professional but she can work a camera and thats all I was looking for really. She did a really good job!

Here we are onto our destination, I had a tree in mind. As you can see I am still getting ready. It seems like no matter how much you prepare for pictures there are always last minutes things. Pictures stress me out.

And the first picture. Drum roll please...........

Okay. Wow. If this is any indication of how the session was going to turn out, things were not in our favor!

Better. But are you noticing the people in the back round...

Different angle. Much better. But now....

the girls are not looking to happy.

Try again.

The milk is about to fall out of Lydia's mouth, can you see it?

Cute, but not gonna work for "The" photo.

"Maycee put your tongue back in."

"Both you girls, put those tongues back in."

"Lydia what kind of face is that?"

Okay, lets try a new spot maybe that will work.

Maybe not.

Just if Maycee's eyes were open ....

Hey!!! I know someone that is great at photo shop :)

This is a good possibility...

Is Blake's leg awkward though??

What about this one?? Its pretty good.

I wish Lydia had some sort of smile though.... How picky am I allowed to be?

Photoshop is still flashing in my head.

Also a contender (but still no smile from Lydia)

(Come on Grandma that is what you came for! Just kidding.... really. You should have seen her! She was all over the place. Flapping her arms like a birdy and everything! Way to go mom!!!)

(Maybe thats the problem Lydia only likes to smile when grandma is close)

This one could work.... maybe?

Well onto something new... New place. New pose. How about just the girls?

Cute. Lighting is a little funny on Lydia. But still cute.

Lets add Blake... AND A FLASH!!!

Way better with the flash! Guess it was to much for Maycee.

Looking better :)

And dad with the girls....

Wait. Where is Maycee? Oh. She is watching the birdies over there take a bath in the water.

I know! We will work with that. We will just move around her...

Grandma was doing crazy things let me tell you! Maycee was like "huh" instead of "haha". Blake got a kick out of it though!

There must be something cool OVER there! All 3 are checking it out.

Wait! Now it is UP there!

Then I decided I wanted to go back to the sun flowers, those were pretty... And now we have to flash on remember??

Would have been perfect, we even fixed Blake's leg! But as you can see Lydia has got something weird going on.

Then we started arguing about I don't even remember...

Then all the sudden the photographer yells...

"KISS!"

so we did and the girls followed suit :)

This one could work but...

What am I doing? Stretching or what? My nostrils are exposed, I CAN TELL YOU THAT!

We would tell Maycee, "put your hands down" and this is what she would do...

Last but not least...

I don't know guys... They look pretty... NOT so great. Like I said I didn't put them all in but these are some of the best. I think I am going to need Angie on this one with her skills. Come Angie :) You know you want to photo shop a little for me!

A Day for Mothers

Happy Mothers Day to MYSELF!!!

And of coarse to all the other Mothers out there that are trying so hard.

I had a wonderful Mothers Day! Don't we look all look so great!?

(Maycee took this picture, I thought she did a pretty good job, so I had to throw it in)

Blake had to take a lot of pictures he was ready to be DONE!!!

You know how it is with kids... You have to taken 27 pictures and just 1 of those will turn out right. Well Blake took about 28....

Blake was so good to me on Sunday. He made me breakfast. Made me lunch. And got me a brand new set of scriptures with my married name engraved in gold on them. He is so thoughtful. They are really nice and I love using the new set. Thank you Sweetheart!!!

I have two beautiful little girls that I am a Mother to!

Maycee is really starting to grow up and become her own little self. She has hit that "independent" stage. She refuses help putting on her shoes or just about anything for that matter. Just the other day she spent 15MINUTES trying to put her socks on. And of coarse I let her. She is actually getting pretty good at it.

Here she is with her sandals... They can be tricky for her sometimes, but never the less, she always succeeds!

I love her smile :)

Maycee is so much like her DAD, its sometimes scary....

*Wants to be in her underwear as MUCH as possible.

*Thinks BOOTS are the only way to go when out in the yard.

*And always has some CRACK for whoever is behind her!!!

My other little girl is this doll baby!

Isn't she the sweetest thing! Always has a smile to give and a laugh to share with anyone.

Its so fun spending time with her because she is ALWAYS happy, and its soooo contagious.

Little girl is growing too! You should see her try and try to roll over. She gets on her side and arches her back. But that darn arm always gets in the way and never allows her to complete her task. It will be soon though.

I am so grateful for the mothers I have in my life. Karla Mickelson and Kimberly Brimhall. They really have both taught me so much. I am so blessed to know these women. They are both truly remarkable. I love you both and I am so grateful for your examples.