twenty-eight

*Celebrating with some birthday sorbet at dinner

It feels great to be twenty-eight! Paul spoiled me this year with a dozen roses, an iTunes giftcard, a special holder for my crafting glue gun (ha!), a little chocolate cake from a bakery downtown, and dinner just the two of us at Pallet in Salt Lake. (Thanks for baby-sitting Debbie and Glade!)

I love where my life is right now at twenty-eight. I have two beautiful girls who I love so much and make me so happy. There are challenges every day of being a mom but I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. Raising them and watching them grow up is and will be the greatest joy in my life. And hopefully we can add another one or two kiddos in the future, too. :)

My hubby has a great job that he enjoys and that supports our family, and I am so grateful for that. He is thoughtful and kind and funny and marrying him was the best decision I ever made. At this point I can say that everyone in our family of four is healthy and happy and that is best present I could ever ask for!

Happy Halloween!

I loved my girls' costumes! As you can see, they were Strawberry Shortcake and a strawberry.

 

 

 

The whole idea came from that vintage strawberry apron. I found that for two bucks at a thrift store, and then I sewed the hat and the polka dot skirt, we already had the red shirt and shoes, and I bought the bloomers and the striped tights online. This is my favorite costume of Penny's ever!

 

After we got ready, we went a little early before preschool and met up with Grandma, who's the head secretary there and an awesome pirate lady.

 

Walking in the parade. Penny was a little shy, but all the cute older kids on the floor clapped for the younger kids as they walked by.

 

Dad came to see the parade, too!

(Look at that lower lip on Penny, she was super sad because the parade was over.)

 

I had to snap a quick picture of Penny with her classmates. So cute!

After school, we hopped in the car and drove to my sister's house for dinner and trick or treating.

 

 

 

Cousin picture! I love these kids.

 

"Don't worry, fair maiden. I will protect you with my glow-in-the-dark axe."

 

 

 

I thought Penny would be totally scared of this guy but she just walked up, got her candy, and while walking back said to me "He was scary, huh, mama." Kids are so funny.

It was such a fun day! Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Gardner Village

Every October it's become a tradition that we go with Paul's mom to Gardner Village. It's a little shopping place that they decorate really cute for Halloween each year. There's activities for kids and it's always a little crowded and a little crazy...but it makes for some cute pics!

*Penny was so excited to make a cute Halloween bracelet.

*Miss Violet chillaxin' in her stroller.

*They bring the same witches out every year, this one's my favorite.

6 months!

*It was a little bright and windy outside...this was the best smile I got!

*She kept trying to eat the stem. Mmm tastey.


I can't believe my baby is 6 months old! That's half a year folks!

Here are some 6-month stats:

- Weighs 18 lbs (85^th %), 27.5” long (92 %), and her head is 43.2 cm around (75%). What a big girl!
- Rolling all over the place. I have to watch her now so that she doesn’t grab anything too small and put it in her mouth. A few times this past week she got up on her knees up for a few seconds. Ah! I'm not ready for crawling yet! (But of course I am so thrilled that Violet is keeping right up with her age.)
- Got her first tooth, on the bottom in the middle. And her second tooth is coming through, too, right next to the first one. Those little baby teeth sure are cute but as a nursing mom, all I have to say is...ouch.
- Can sit up on her own for a while, but still too wobbly to leave on her own.
- In addition to rice cereal, we introduced bananas and after a few funny expressions she gobbled it right up.
- Loves to be tossed in the air, she just giggles up a storm.
- Blows raspberries like it's her job.
- Still a dream sleeper. Sleeps 8pm to 8am and takes 2 naps during the day. 

- Has little “conversations” with her big sister. Penny will go “ooo-eee-ahhh!” to her and Violet cracks a grin and tries to repeat the same sound. I love it!

T     This little girl sure is a good baby. It's gets kinda crazy with two littles sometimes, but Violet eats well, sleeps well, is healthy as can be and I am so grateful. Adjusting to two really isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I even have a couple times a week when I get a few hours all to myself; Penny has preschool twice a week and that chunk of time happens to be right during Violet's afternoon nap. Score! I know I should use that time for catch-up cleaning around the house or something productive, but let's be honest, I usually read a book or take a nap. Ha! I'm so happy Penny loves preschool. I love her little art projects that she brings home, she has an entire side of the fridge specifically for her works of art. I'm getting excited for all the holidays coming up and I can't wait to experience them with both my girls. And Paul too of course. :)

Hee Haw Farms!

This was our second year going to Hee Haw Farms and we loved it! There's so much to do - a petting zoo, an animal train ride, a hay ride, a giant slide, a corn maze and more - it's so perfect for kids. We went with my sister and her family, and doing fun stuff like this together always makes me appreciate having her close by.
  



  

See ya next year Hee Haw Farms!

Circus Circus

We got free tickets to the circus again this year through Paul's work and it was, once again, awesome! I love free entertainment, don't you?
The tiger act always makes me nervous!

This was awesome! These girls were in plastic orbs high in the air and did all these cool contortionist movies inside them.

Love me some elephants.

The theme this year was...DRAGONS.

And some blurry iPhone photos for your viewing pleasure.