Stay this little.....

Today as I picked up Winnie for the millionth time (yes, I hold her that much) I realized that her floppy newborn body has been replaced by a strong, vibrant almost seven month old one who feels heavy in my arms. When did my tiny little baby become so big and dense?  How did I miss this change? How did she grow so fast in our arms? 

My dad recently got me the newest Taylor Swift CD and funny as it seems I was listening to it for the 100th time when I heard these lyrics.....

....Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up, if it could stay this simple....

I'm sure when little miss Taylor wrote this song, she was imaging someone like me holding her sweet little girl wanting to freeze time as I do now. 

We can't get enough of this precious baby. Literally. Cannot. Get. Enough.

Piper turns 4

It sure is crazy to me what a difference a year can make when you have little ones.

Yesterday our little family got together and held a birthday celebration for Piper. At her request, we ate Victor's pizza (a local Italian joint) in the Honey Grove park. It was very hot and windy so we saved the cake and presents for the house.

While Piper may be a rough and tumble little girl, she is also so sensitive to the feelings of everyone around her. She is always thinking of Charly and Winnie and is so forgiving when others do her wrong. We cherish her loving spirit and could all learn a little from this sweet gal of ours.

Here is Piper getting ready to go down the slide at full speed and Charly walking back down the steps after evaluating the risks of this particular action. LOL, it amazes me how different they are in that department. Charly being the cautious one with everything she does and Piper just jumping into everything, literally and figuratively.

Sweet little Piper doesn't like cake, any form of it, so Nate made her this terrific giant chocolate chip cookie cake which I then frosted. We were sure it would be a hit with the little cookie monster that she is. How could any kid turn it down, especially when placed next to a scoop of chocolate ice cream?

Guess how many bites of her cookie cake she ate.........ONE!

The cake sure wasn't a hit but her gifts certainly were the best part for her, especially her LaLaLoopsy doll, which Charly wanted to buy with her own birthday money. Rochelle gave her a box of scrumptious Cheez-its and Nate and I worked hard preparing the blocks we made for her, my arms are still sore from sanding the 30+ blocks.

She loves carrying her doll in the Ergo carrier we got for her after trying to wear mine and discovering it was much too big. Big thumbs up for this future attachment parenting momma!

Happy Birthday to Piper, who officially turns 4 tomorrow!

Momma drama

Yesterday I was in such a funk, not sure how I got there or why I stayed but regardless, I was there. All day I moped around feeling drab. I can't even remember the last time I was in such a sour mood.

We went to church, came home, relaxed for a little bit, finished Piper's birthday presents and after all that I was still feeling funky. I even tried eating a piece of cheesecake in solitude but was interrupted shortly after so it didn't work. 

It wasn't until I was feeling better later in the day that I realized  it wasn't sweet and chocolates I needed, I just needed some nice fresh air with my family and a little laughter on the hammock. After we went outside in the evening and played in the garden, picked some veggies and held our "feathered cats" I felt a million times better. 

Charly is becoming quite the little bird whisperer, I often find her outside relaxing with a little friend in her lap, calm as can be. 

Thank goodness I have these awesome kids and sarcastic, funny hubby to bring this crazy momma back down to earth.

Winnie appreciated the momma kisses, at least I think she did......She'd better!

Piper also got a piece of Winnie....

Here Winnie was just minding her own business, having fun looking at her hand.....

When, WHAM, Piper comes in from behind and squeezes her ever so tight....

Out of all the photos we have ever taken of the girls, I think I love this one the most. Piper's love for her baby sister is literally jumping out into my lap when I look at it.

I must warn you....the following little write up may in fact make a *sigh* come from your mouth.

After moving Winnie up to our bed last night I went to go brush my teeth and came back to a most adorable sight. Nate holding his baby girl's tiny little hand as they sleep. 

What a gentle reminder of the lucky little family we have. What a great daddy Nate is. 

I couldn't help but feel a little foolish for walking around with a pout all day when I have moments like these all the time with him.

You don't have one, but I sure do

So this is my little sister Rochelle, you may remember her from the prom post a few months back. 

She is so adorable, I can't stand it.  Not only can she rock hot pink lipstick on perfectly lined lips but she also has a personality and laugh that is contagious. Sure she is a little hyper sometimes but I really love these moments I get with her, she is the best. I sure hope she doesn't outgrow letting me dress her up and play make-up with her.

Winnie can do tricks!

Our delicious little baby cake showed us a new trick today. Cute little gal still won't roll over but she will sit up and chew her toy.  She totally caught me off guard today when Charly was playing with her on the floor and kind of moved back a bit so she wasn't leaning on her. The next thing I heard was a very thrilled Charly shouting with excitement for Winnie's sitting abilities.

{Click photos to enlarge}

Look at those baby toes, I could just eat her up!

Look who's using the snazzy camera!

I was so excited as I glaced through photos and come across a folder titled "Daddy day date".

Behold, I give you three photos snapped by Nathan while on vacation! I am so glad he is finally playing around with my non-film camera! He has mad photo skills when it comes to all things nature but has been hesitant to practice people shooting skills, which really isn't a big deal because, you know, I take a few myself. LOL

I sure hope he does this more often because he did a really great job at capturing these goofy gal's personalities. 

Can I get a "Hoo-Rah" for my fantastic hubby?!!

The "Grand" exit

It seemed impossible when the end of May came up and it was already time to leave Utah. How in the world had it been three weeks? Time flies way too fast when you'd prefer it just to stop for a moment. 

After seeing Bryce Canyon, which is unbelievable, Nate and I decided to make a detour to the grand Canyon which added about six hours to our trip. I had been there countless times as a child but going as an adult brought  feelings I didn't know existed. Being surrounded by such a massive form of nature really is a reminder of how small we are. What a magnificent sight. 

Of course I was a nervous wreck every anybody went near the edge, as there is no fence. I was surprised at how close people were getting to the drop off. I know Nate was keeping the girls safe, but still. The pictures just don't do this gorgeous place justice.  I wish we had more time to spend at these places. I was just dying to take the trail where we stopped at Bryce Canyon, it was a scene straight out of a movie....only better! I honestly couldn't believe my eyes.  We would be driving in the middle of the desert and out of nowhere there is a majestic piece of art you would never expect to find in such a place. It is a reminder of our creator, Heavenly Father, and the beauty that exists when you but chance to look for it. Beauty really is all around!

{And to think, there are politicians/common folk who don't want to protect these glorious places! }

Thank goodness someone was nice enough to take our picture! Funny thing, the couple who helped us was visiting from a town not too far from where Nate and I met in Germany. Piper's face cracks me up in this picture.

We also saw Glenn Canyon damn on our way home and took a tour. Nate and I were more intrigued with the tour than the girls for sure. Charly was probably most excited about meeting this little fellow at the water fountain while we were waiting for the tour. She jumped up from excitement when she learned he was in the same grade as her AND was home schooled! What a treat to get to share stories and ask questions with like-minded families.

Where there is water.....there is love

Flipping through all of our vacation photos I saw a pattern. Whenever there seemed to be water around, the girls were very affectionate with each other...perhaps we should dig up the backyard and throw a fountain in it. 

{The picture above was taken at Glenn Canyon Damn, the other two were taken at Temple Square in SLC, no wonder there was so much love felt and given!}

Charly's BFF

As an adult I understand the importance of lifelong friends, I appreciate how special it is when you meet one and I'm thrilled for Charly to have found a few at her young age. These two have known each other since Charly was practically a toddler, and they just happen to be next door neighbors to my in-laws. Charly is always telling me that Kaly is a friend she will have forever and their bond radiates  when they get together.

Cousin love while in Utah, and NO not THAT kind

It is a rarity to get these cute little people together for sure. So glad we decided to get some photos when he came to play at Mickey's house. Seriously how cute are these guys? Piper and Charly just eat him up, a little boy is a novelty around them, after all the only boy they are around most of the time is a grown up!

Logan is a couple of years younger but you wouldn't know it by looking at this picture. He stands a whole lot taller than our shorty Charly. He was so cute with Winnie too. He couldn't get enough of her, can't say I  blame him. 

Perhaps he is trying to hint to his momma that it's time for a sibling. *cough, cough* No pressure Lance and Lindee. 

People always say how fun girls are, and I think so too, but would you just look at this kid! Whenever Nate and I have a son (and it WILL happen, one way or another) I envision he will be a mini version of Nate just like Logan is TOTALLY a mini version of his daddy!

It's so cute that he looks like/dresses like Lance, from his head down to his feet.

I sure wish we lived closer, I have dreams of my kids having cousins nearby that they grow up with. And yes that is a formal invite for my brother Rudy to get married and have kids, or Rochelle to get hitched as well, after HS of course...after all Rochelle is only about a year younger than me when I met Nate. Hard to believe huh?

Raise your hands if you like birds!

Have I mentioned how freaking cool my father in-law is? Oh, I haven't? Well I am now. I always mention Nate's love for all things nature and it being attributed to his grandpa and almost every time I completely forget to give credit to his free loving, hippie dad! LOL And in case you didn't know, for me, calling someone a free loving, hippie is like the ULTIMATE compliment!

Larry has been volunteering at a bird rehab for the past few years which means we get a backstage pass to all the little creatures. While in Utah we took lunch to Larry while he was at a bird festival and Winnie was so cute, a local photographer {Click the word photographer to see his site} had to get a piece of her. 

Nate and Larry would both cringe if I couldn't identify this bird right but I'm almost 100 percent sure it is a falcon, the fastest animal in the world!!! Oh good grief I hope I am right.

When these two get together you'd better be prepared to chat about birds, it's pretty much a passion of theirs.  Me, well, I like em and all, just not as much as they do.

To Utah {Days 1-3}

Forcing myself to recall details  for our trip to Utah that started over a month ago is tricky, especially with a bouncy baby on my lap. I will try and hopefully what is lacking in words will make up in pictures. Seeing as how we planned on driving to Utah this time, Nate and I thought we would hit national parks and other sites along the way and make a mini vacation out of it. We are genius' for thinking of this. Our first stop along the way good ole' Clovis, NM where we got to partake of the most delicious Thai food (Saeng's Orient) we have ever had in our entire lives. To say I was excited about this part is a major understatement.

Of course this is also where Charly was born and where we spend the first couple years of her life. A lot of great and wonderful friends were made there. It was delightful to take a tour of Cannon AFB, to see what has changed and what looked exactly the same. Our old house, the hospital where Charly was born and Nate's old weather shop were all on the list of attractions.

To save money we skipped the hotels and stayed in KOA cabins instead. The first night was in a cozy little cabin with only one bed. It was a sleepless night for Nate and I but a funny story to tell after the fact. Fitting a family of five on a full sized bed is really not as easy as it may sound. Wait, that doesn't sound easy at all does it?  

Somehow we made it work.

Day two of the three day journey to Utah was spent driving to Durango, CO. This KOA cabin had a better sleeping arrangement and the girls were totally stoked about getting to sleep on bunk beds! Before settling down after a long day's drive we played a game of mini golf and played in the KOA playground where of course I got some major squeezing in after having Winnie in the car all day.

Day three was my favorite! Not only did we get to go to Arches National Park, Hole in the Rock, and Moab, it was also the day we would finally be in Utah!! As we drove and made rest stops the girls explored the different nature backdrops, it was quite the treat. I know this trip brought back memories for Nate growing up and traveling these same roads as a child with his grandparents. I love standing back and watching Nate share his love of nature with the girls, something I know he is passing on from his grandpa.

Because we were traveling with Shelby (our dog) we couldn't really take the trails to the arches. We saw them from afar and stopped along the park to climb and explore.

These sweet looking binoculars may look cool but unfortunately they didn't split into two separate pairs. 

Sharing after being in the car for three days is not so easy. You can actually see Charly pouting in the picture where Piper has them. Poor girls, they really did do great for having no form of electronic entertainment during the whole trip. Nate and I figured we would go old school this time, after all that is what, we agreed, made our childhood vacations so memorable.

Charly and Piper both really loved this particular stop( below) we made in Arches where the could climb to their heart's delight. Luckily Piper was being super careful this day. They also forgot that just thirty minutes prior they were arguing. It's really hard to stay mad at your sister with all the beauty of nature surrounding you.

This certainly was a great rest stop, even Winnie seemed to enjoy the joys of being a baby, nursing high atop a rock.  There is something about nursing my children in the wide open spaces of nature that makes this gal think. 

It certainly is one of my life's joys. I love it!