Jane turns two and Kate's first dance recital

As usual, I'm behind on blogging.  This time I'm going to break it up month by month, starting with the big events in May.  These pictures are actually old enough that Jane looks noticeably younger to me in them.

First of all, Jane turned two in May.  Her main present was a kid-sized wooden table and chair set.  Scott assembled it the night before so she could wake up to it in the morning.  Both Janie and Kate were pretty excited and got right to work on the new table before asking for breakfast.  I like Janie's funny camera faces:

Here's another one:

The girls before church in their dresses from Grandma Swendsen:

Jane asked for a "doggie cake" for her birthday so here's what she got.  It looks a lot like the panda cake I made Kate when she turned 3.  I had to copy a picture, of course.  Unfortunately I can't pull any artwork out of my own brain.

Believe it or not, we have like 8 pictures of Jane blowing at the candles.  She was pretty pumped about the idea.

One of Janie's presents was this doll that comes with a bottle it can drink and a potty that it subsequently pees in.  I feel ambivalent about this toy... the concept is gross, but on the other hand it sets a good example for Janie.

Kate was sweet about all the birthday attention her sister got.

Janie reading her birthday card from Grandma and Grandpa Thurber.  The purse, also from them, has been a permanent fixture on her arm ever since.  At mealtime, at the pool, everywhere.

Jane is a chatty and happy little two-year-old.  She is observant and has lots of funny comments to make.  She has a strong will, but it seems like she throws fewer fits than she used to.  Or maybe I'm just becoming desensitized to them.  Either way, I am loving her current stage.

When we moved in our lawn looked kind of shabby, and Scott has worked hard to make it better. I thought his efforts deserved some documentation on the blog.

He also painted our house number with the BYU "Y" on our driveway:

We had this concrete patio poured (because there was nothing but grass before), and Scott installed the shade sail himself.  It usually provides more shade than this. :)

We got a trampoline, which has already been well worth the money in my opinion, and Scott did the rock bed and wooden border underneath.

Kate and her daddy made a huge fort in the living room one day.

Poking through the roof of the fort:

Another big event in May was Kate's first dance recital.  If you know Kate you won't be surprised that her excitement over the costume, makeup, etc. was off the charts.  I would have been just as thrilled at that age to get to wear a costume like this.

There was dancing at the recital too :) but that's on our video camera which hasn't been uploaded yet.  So for now I just have the pictures.  This is a sweet one of Kate with her aunt Christine.

And one with her mommy...

...and an especially awkward one with her aunt Camille.  Maybe Camille was aspiring to make it onto Awkward Family Photos?

Here's a group picture of everyone who was able to make it for the recital.  Austin and Becky, we missed you!

On the same day, we drove up to San Marcos to eat at the steakhouse where Camille works and finally got a group picture of everyone who was there.  Thanks for coming, y'all!