A Glimpse

 You wouldn't know it by the weather today, but earlier this week I caught a glimpse.  A glimpse of something this stay at home mom waits all year for.

Isn't it a beautiful sight?  I had to drag both kids inside after an hour (DAYS in kid years)  to keep their super cute baby skin from crisping up.

I also caught a glimpse of something else.  I think we are thisclose to these two being able to play together.  I know that means the fighting is not far off, but Holden has been patiently waiting for Harper to be a willing participant in his elaborate games for quite some time now, and I'm pretty sure she'll be happy to oblige.

                   

True Motherly Love

If Holden ever questions my love for him, please remind him that when he was four, he needed shoes for summer, and I let him buy these.

I hate Croc type shoes under the best of circumstances, but I do acknowledge their convenience.
These shoes, my friends, are NOT the best of circumstances.  They are so far from the best of circumstances you can't even SEE the best of circumstances.

But he fell in love with these shoes, so he got these shoes....On the condition they never, under any circumstances be worn anywhere further than the mailbox.

.....They've already been to swim lessons twice.  I'm willing to bet you will see him rocking these babies at Target by the end of the summer.  The convenience, people!  It will not be ignored!

It's May

and it's FREEZING.  My poor heart just can't handle the Hawaii pictures at center stage on my blog anymore.

In unrelated news, I think from now on all my dinners will be made in mini muffin tins.  Because why shouldn't dinner be adorable?  Next time we're making pizza ones... Iowa Girl Eats is my new best friend.



and because I just can't stand to have Hawaii archived for good...

Seriously, you guys just died a little from the cuteness, didn't you?

Hawaii (The Condensed Version)

 Here's the deal.  If it didn't involve eating, sleeping, or lounging by some water, it probably was not part of our vacation.  It was 8 days of doing as little as possible.  For reals.  A day in the life, as proof:

We made the most of doing nothing by following the "early to bed, early to rise" rule (with some pretty impressive naps thrown in for good measure.)  Here's us watching the sunrise and the sunset, respectively.

We'd lounge on the beach:

 Then we'd eat.

 We'd go to the pool,

 Then we'd eat.

 We'd pretend to do a touristy activity

To try to cover up the fact that we really went there for one purpose.  Dole Whip.

So, let's recap...

Beach.

Pool.

Eat.

Pretend to be active to burn off some of the eating.

Reward ourselves with Shave Ice.

Visit some of the haunts from my glory days (AKA one summer) at BYU-Hawaii.

Have a celebratory McDonalds run to commemorate that Hawaii was the birthplace of my love affair with Diet Coke.

Get more sleep in one week then we've gotten all year, resulting in us being pretty much giant nerds the whole trip.

Now do you believe me?  Eat + Sleep + Lounge = exactly the vacation I needed.  

The best part of going on vacation sans children?  You are actually excited to come home, instead of just suuuuuper bummed your vacation is over.   The worst part?  I'm pretty sure my parents now need a vacation after holding down the fort for a week.  

All in all, two 30th birthdays and one 10 year wedding anniversary deserved a big celebration, and I'd say we succeeded.  

In Like A Lion..

and also out like a lion!  March was jam packed with all sorts of fun activities and seriously flew by.  April is on track to be the same way.  

So before I forget all the delightfulness, a quick peek at the March madness.

I spy with my little eye...
*Outings to McDonalds and the Children's Museum.  Harper has officially crossed over into fully participating in the cesspool of  winter ick that covers both places.  You'll notice it doesn't keep me from going either place.  Winter is desperate times, you guys.
* First time taking both kids swimming by myself.  No drownings to report, so I have high hopes for this summer.
* Turning all our food green for St Patrick's Day.  Holden went nuts for this holiday.  It seriously rivals Easter in his book.
* Speaking of Easter, we kick started the Easter season by making some chocolate dipped cinnamon bunnies. Unpictured--the bags and bags of Cadbury Mini Eggs that also made their way into our bellies well before Easter got here.
* Practicing wrestling moves with dad.
* Test driving adorable Spring wardrobes
* So many fun playdates with friends!  I love the end of hibernation season.
* Errands.  So many errands.  Good thing those two can entertain each other and Holden is easily bribed with quarter machines.

And after all that, we still had Easter to take care of.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, Easter is my favorite holiday.   Hands down.  A bold statement, I know, but I don't take it back.

I spy with my little eye...
* Egg dying.  Poor Harper had to watch from afar while munching on one of those weird clear crayons that comes with the egg dying kit.  Maybe next year, kid.
* Easter basket bliss eggs all ready to be found.
* Adorable Sunday best for all.

Perfect 10

in 10 years

we've had 9 jobs

spent 8 nights in the hospital

visited 7 states

had 6 homes

and 5 cars

taken 4 trips to Disneyland

earned 3 college degrees

added 2 kids

equaling one happy life!

I couldn't have dreamed up a better anniversary than this one. 

"One" More Thing

Harper's actual birthday was a very low key affair.  She spent the day doing all of her very favorite things, including, but not limited to--eating as much people food she could gum up, wearing pretty clothes, playing with new gifts and taking selfies with my phone

Her latest tricks include saying uh-oh, da da, and ma ma, when she's feeling particularly generous; leaping headfirst off of the couch but refusing to try to stand on her own, and being stuck to my side 24/7.  

She's 28.75 inches (38th percentile)

         21.5 pounds (57th percentile)

          ....and her adorable little football head clocks in at an impressive 18.5 inches (93rd percentile)

Although she hasn't grown much since her nine month appointment, she sure has grown an impressive amount this year.  Proof:

Basically, she's a big hit around here, and we think we'll keep her around.