{family resemblance}

- Posted from my iPhone

road trip.

We're grateful to some lovely friends who invited us to their cabin recently. It was a much needed break from home, gave the kids some time to explore & play while the grown ups got to relax.

Bear Lake

sand castles

Cassidy got the camera! Artistic, no?

 

Our (13 months today!) munchkin is a climber!

Walking to dinner.

 

Heading home via Wyoming. Gorgeous wide open spaces.

Thanks again friends! We had a wonderful time!

library time.

We love our public library. Every Wednesday we attend toddler story time where the librarians share books, songs, dances & projects around a different theme each week. It takes me back to my first grade teaching years to see all the fun little activities. After story time we explore new books, the play area, fun places to read & visit with friends. We're thankful for such a toddler friendly, beautiful, free place to go each week!

- Posted from my iPhone

happy birthday to me.

One of the best birthdays yet. My mom came to town to visit, Michael took the day off work, the girls both slept past 7:30 am, we went on a field trip to Pine View Reservoir for the day & I got chocolate cake! What more could I want on the day I, as Michael so kindly put it, "officially turned 30-something."

On the way we saw part of the 2010 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Bike Race

 

 

beach time! the girls *loved* it!

where we live is beautiful. so are our daughters!

home for a yummy dinner, cake & a birthday kiss!

 

life with a toddler.

Cassidy attends Little Gym classes each Thursday. Each week has a theme. Today's theme was "Your Enchanted Child" & the teacher talked about how much & how quickly children change, particularly at this age. She mentioned how they could change in a matter of 5 weeks...to which I responded, "Or a matter of 5 minutes or 5 seconds!"

I'm clearly not the first person to raise a child or have a strong-willed toddler. Each day has it's ups & downs, blissful squeals & raging screams. According to Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, the author of Raising Your Spirited Child, spirited children fall somewhere into the spectrum of the following nine traits: intensity, persistence, sensitivity, perceptiveness, adaptability, regularity, energy, first reaction & mood. Things that may not necessarily bother or trigger another child will cause a scene for my darling girl. 

As a parent I've learned to be a master of prevention...always carrying snacks, staying on a nap schedule, constantly introducing new distractions or activities at home or on errands. It's kind of exhausting, quite honestly. I've had to recognize my somewhat "spirited" self in the process of learning to parent. I never would have guessed that I'd have to give myself a timeout because a two-year old was getting on my very.last.nerve.ever. I probably wouldn't have guessed how excited I'd get over watching ants march down the driveway or using the potty or playing with Dora either.

Amidst the meltdowns about putting the milk away or having her chair in not quite the right place - Cassidy is growing into an enchanted, beautiful, thoughtful little girl. And perhaps too quickly for her mommy's liking. Life with our toddler is a daily adventure. I'm such a thankful & lucky mom to get to grow & learn with her.

family time

Grandpa Doug & Uncle Mark are here for the long Easter weekend. It's been extra nice to have two extra sets of hands to occupy Cassidy & entertain Kalea. It's been like a vacation to be able to go to the bathroom all by myself! We spent the morning today hanging out at home. Cassidy is thrilled to have more people to boss around play with for the weekend. Grandpa went with us to Little Gym to play. Aunt Jenny & Uncle Mark offered to watch Kalea while we went to play since she was in the middle of a nap. It was nice to be able to run around & give Cassidy some special attention.  She had both of us down on all fours on the mat doing the "crab walk," swinging from the uneven parallel bars, running & jumping all over the place. After class we all headed up to Park City to have lunch with Michael. This week we're so thankful to be able to spend time with them. While it is fun to Skype with Grandpa & Uncle Mark, it's even better to see them in person.

thankful thursday

A sister is one of the nicest things that can happen to anyone. --author unknown

If there is one person Michael & I are both most thankful for this week, it's my sister Jenny.  Yesterday while Michael & I were both in bed most of the day with a nasty 24-hour stomach bug, she took care of the girls. I seriously am not sure what we would have done if she hadn't been here & more than willing to help out.  It's been really great getting to know my little sister again, as a grown up, during the times she has been living with us.  I can only hope my girls have the same connection & loving relationship as I've been lucky enough to have with her & Jessie.

xoxo to my sisters.