Spring Things

Oh, Spring.  That magical season where you never know if you are going to wake up to shorts or snow.   At our house, we are so looking forward to our upcoming super awesome epic mini summer of fun (named by Holden), that it is easy for Spring to get overlooked.  Here are some Spring things we've managed to accomplish. 

St Patrick's Day--

Pictured- A selection of artwork from the day and Reo pleased as punch that thanks to his sister tracking down the long lost recipe, we were able to recreate the "green stuff" from his childhood.

Not pictured- Crazy tricks the leprechaun played on us throughout the day.  I'm quite sure the leprechaun had to get pretty creative to stay one step ahead of Holden.  

Enjoying warmer days at the park with my very oldest friends--

Pictured-Even though it feels like yesterday we were all hanging around the neighborhood, somehow we've managed to have a whole bunch of kids

Not pictured- One kid in school, one kid who couldn't be coaxed off the playground for a boring picture, and one not quite born yet (none of them mine, don't get any ideas).  Also the adults.

Trying to enjoy not as warm of days wishing warm weather into fruition by painting summer landscapes--
Pictured-Holden getting his painting skills on
Not pictured-Harper painting with water....Because she's two and I'm prone to anxiety attacks around messes.

Taking Lagoon by storm on opening day to finally utilize the season pass Holden has been waiting months to use--

Pictured-Some of the family favorites

Not pictured-Me coming thisclose to throwing up.  Multiple times.  Carny rides are no longer my jam. 

Getting a little Spring cleaning/organizing fever--

Pictured- A couple of completed projects for Harper's room to help me realize that no, I do not in fact hate my house and everything in it, I was just sick of looking at the same walls during snow day after snow day and needed a change.

Not pictured- The majority of my house that still looks the exact same.  I'm a slow decorator.  

Our first experience with baseball--

Pictured-Holden ready to go

Not Pictured-Holden's first hit, where he proceeded to run with his bat in front of him like a cane to first base.  Since he is 50 percent mine, this is actually pretty impressive.  Sports aren't so much my jam either, apparently.

In a perfect blog world, Easter and the events leading up to it would be it's own post.  But since my blog is in survival mode, getting lumped in with everything else it is!

Pictured--Against my better judgement, embracing all the crazy Easter-time activities.  Sugar cookies, egg dying, super overcrowded community egg hunts...we did it all

Not pictured--Me actually really loving all of that stuff.

The night before the main event, Holden left this note on the front door for our Easter Bunny.  

In case you don't read Holden, here's what it says..

Find eggs in living room.  Thanks! Happy Easter!  And P.S. I want to wake up to find my basket full of Peeps or you could do whatever you want your choice  Love: Holden

Pictured-The Easter Bunny delivering

Pictured- The kids ready to hunt for eggs.  Holden is holding a map he made to remind him where to look. Yes, we do currently go through a lot of paper at our house, if that's what you were wondering.

Pictured-The Loot....And what happens to Holden's leg when we do not provide him with enough paper.

Pictured-All dressed up and ready to celebrate the real meaning of Easter at church.  And not yet so hopped up on sugar that they can't hold still.  So, success!

And finally, it's not a holiday without a little family time--
Pictured-These two cousins having the best time together
Not pictured-Everyone else

Happy Spring!

The Kids Are Alright--Part 3

My poor, neglected blog. It needs a kick start in the worst possible way.  I don't know if an overshare about my kids will do the trick, but it's worth a shot, right?

Youngest goes first!

Two year old Harper has heard rumors of this thing called the terrible twos and is trying her hardest to execute it.  It's too bad for her that at two I can still kind of laugh at her "tantrums."  Talk to me when she's three and I'll be singing a different tune, I'm sure. 

 She's starting to talk for reals now, and although most words are still only understood by her parents...Oftentimes not even then.  She never complains though, and frequently gives us a pass when she's accepted that we are just not understanding what she's saying. 

Her stranger anxiety is still at an epic high, and she still prefers her mom to pretty much anyone else, and you only sometimes hear me complaining about this fact.  

  

She's always very concerned about where Holden is.  Whether that's because she wants to be around him or she's worried about her safety is unclear, but we hear a lot of "Hodie, where ahh you?" which is just as cute as you think it is.
She's growing!  The doctor tried to call her chubby at her check up but ate his words when her stats showed up perfectly in proportion.  (34 inches and 27 lbs 13 oz = 65% for  both height and weight).  Poor girl can't help it that she carries most of her weight in her thighs.

               

Firstborn!
Holden continues to think that he is in charge at our house.  He knows best, and if someone disagrees, it must just be that they don't understand.  Because if they did, surely they would agree with him.  Needless to say, it leads to some headbutting at our house.  But it also means he is bright and energetic and wants so badly to be a grownup that I could sit and listen to him talk for hours.  And I do.  Because that kid can talk.

He is enjoying preschool and is already planning a graduation party for himself.  He asked his preschool teacher to call me to bring him a dollar so he could get an ice cream cone on the way home, so clearly his priorities are right where they need to be.

 

He cannot wait until the day he can use the Lagoon season pass he got for Christmas, and he will tell you the height requirements for every ride in the park.  Being 44 inches (and 46 lbs) (55% and 75%, respectively), he doesn't quite make the cut for all of them, but is diligently eating his vegetables to get a little taller by summer.
Holden does not have stranger anxiety, and wants to be around people all the time.  He makes friends with anyone he can and loves attention from anyone who will give it.  I'm crossing my fingers that no strangers with candy come calling when I'm not around, because I'm quite confident he'd be in the back of that creeper van in two seconds, despite our stranger danger talks.

Basically, I obviously have the best kids in the world.  And though I can't honestly say I'm enjoying every minute of these ages, I CAN say that I'm enjoying them a lot, and that you better believe I will be soaking up my last few months of having both my kids around full time.

Harper Turns TuTu

Although Harper will probably hate having a winter birthday most of her life (as those of us with winter birthdays tend to do)  I, for one am thankful that her birthday provides a break in the monotony that is a Utah winter.  

We celebrated Harper turning two with a low key tutu bash that was easy to execute and still involved a bazillion yards of tulle, so I count Harper's birthday as a success! Except for yet another cake fail.  Thankfully Kneaders came through with yummy tarts, because as my good friend Christian Bale would say, cake baking and I are officially done professionally.  

I drank about 10,000 Italian sodas (and am still benefiting from the yummy Sonic ice leftover in my freezer) so it's safe to say those were my favorite part.

It was a small crowd this year, so we Facetimed in our newly residing in Chicago peeps to make things a little more festive.

Harper loved being the star of the show and continues to sing Happy Birthday to herself every day, so I think she had fun, too.

And since I'm fully aware that when it comes to a birthday party for a two year old, it's all more for me than them, I made sure Harper's actual big day was all about her.  We celebrated with cupcake pajamas, whipped cream on our breakfast oatmeal, the birthday girl's request for "chiiiicken!!!" for lunch, trips to the children's museum and the park (since the weather could not have been more perfect), and presents and sugar cookies bars (I was serious about the no more cake thing) when Reo got home.  Even the toughest members of our family to please (I'm looking at you, Holden) considered the day a win!

Defeating January

The only defense I have against January?  Escape.  Get out of dodge.  For as long as possible.  In this case, thanks to scamming in on the California beach house my sister rented, it was 10 days of blissful escape.

Escaping the cold:

and the snow:

and the inversion:

Escaping the tendency I have to avoid contact with all other humans and hole up in my house:

and the same old indoor activities:

and the same old food:

and oh yeah, did I mention the cold?

and I want to feel bad that I'm making you jealous right now, I really do.  But I can't.

Because it was amazing.  And I'm pretty sure California was just as big a fan of us, because they did everything in their power not to let us leave, including turning our plane around halfway back to Salt Lake City for another quick stay.  It took it's toll on us, that's for sure.

But by the time we got back, January was practically over!  I'm already saving my pennies to escape again next year (mostly because getting your flight turned around halfway to your destination comes with an apology in the form of a flight credit! Yay!)

Now.  If only I could apply the same game plan to February...Luckily I have Harper's birthday and jelly hearts to help me through.