Chelan- why did we just discover you?

Well we actually packed up the car and went on a little road trip over the 4th of July. We were originally planning a kid free trip to ATL to see some friends who had moved but when that didn't work out we decided to use the time off and go on our first family trip to Chelan. We usually travel with other people. Either other couples, or with family so going on a trip with just us was new and so much fun. Both the girls were great in the car and the house we rented in Wapato point was PERFECT for families. We all had our own room and had room to spare. We played in the pool, BBQ'd, wine tasted, water parked, and did lots of relaxing. I have to say that usually when we do multiple days as a family I am ready for new people but on this trip when Ren's family came on the last day (which was so fun) I wanted more days at the end. It was one of  the best trips I have been on in a long time and it made me realize that we need to do more short, local trips. Now that Hayden is almost 5 (OMG) and Aly will be 2 next month we are back into a stage where traveling doesn't seem like a forced hell but a welcomed break. I think we may just make this trip a tradition.

Diapers on the head were a favorite game all weekend.

She looks so old!

These 2 are best buds- time with Daddy is precious and Hayden soaked it up.

God help us in high school



We had ice cream sandwiches for breakfast. More than once.



View from our porch



Cracked me up Ren bought this wine when we were in Chelan wine country



I think we had some wine.....

Ok maybe I had wine- his picture of me was much clearer.

The wine was mine I swear

We woke Hayden up at 10pm so she could cuddle on the deck and eat M&M's and watch the fireworks for the first time. Priceless.

Can't fully see them but the fireworks were amazing.

What a way to die.

OK the title may seem very scary or perhaps dark for 8:30 in the morning. But I did something stupid and incredibly funny the other day- and when that happens I have to share. I have become very close with my friend Prosecco. Like it makes me smile to walk by the fridge and see it chilling for when it and I can have time together. Not like I am drinking it for breakfast (although some days I want to) but it has become my drink of choice when there is a small ray of sunshine and I can sit on our almost complete deck and take a DEEP breath. SO the other evening I decided "today has been a long day so I am going to have some Prosecco". I should also say I struggle with opening things. Jars, doors, wine bottles, twist off beer bottles and yes you guessed it Prosecco. So when I pulled and pulled and the cork would NOT come out I had a brilliant idea. I put the cork in my mouth and twisted trying to loosen it enough to be able to open it. Well open it I did. The damn thing shot right off and into my mouth. Picture it- a wine cork exploding straight down my esophagus. What would Ren tell our family, our kids? Death by wine cork? Luckily I caught it before it truly lodged in my throat. But it did change our relationship. Never thought I could die at the hands of Prosecco. Sometimes I make myself laugh. I guess if you have to go it could be worse.

Change is in the air.

Change is in the air- that is such a general statement. What does it even mean? Isn't change always in the air? I know it is for us. When I woke up this morning I planned on slowly waking to my alarm, showering, getting ready for work. Instead I was awoken by Aly's cry at 5:20, Hayden up at 6:00, and hustling around the house to get out by 6:45 and on my way to work. We are constantly changing, constantly reacting. With small children your whole day is about change and accepting that what you had planned in your mind is rarely the reality. For us it is more like "Letting go of control is in the air". The older I get the more I realize that when I chose to be a mother I chose to no longer have control over most things. What we eat for dinner- not my choice. What time I wake up- not my choice. What I do on the weekends- FOR SURE not my choice. I have found that letting go of that need for control, and rolling with the punches (sometimes literally Aly has taken to slapping me in the face and laughing) makes for a better, easier, happier day and in turn a happier Mom and Kids. Change is good- I have been telling myself that a lot lately. If we aren't changing, we aren't growing and isn't growing what life is all about?

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another! ~Gail Sheehy

Belly Laugh

I laughed out loud at this.I Think we have this one covered.

Perspective

I awoke yesterday morning to an email from a very dear friend. As I was rushing around the house to answer work emails, feed the kids, feed the cat, and unload my amazon groceries I was stopped in my tracks. My friend and her husband have been expecting their first child and I assumed the email was to let everyone know the long awaited gender. It turns out that in the gender scan they also noticed some abnormalities that lead to them learning that their unborn child would not survive . My heart dropped, tears filled my eyes, and I felt such pain for their loss. It completely changed the course of my day.
Our mornings are hectic, our days are hectic, OK our LIVES are really hectic. I realized how often I take advantage of my happy, healthy, incredibly active little girls. I realized I yell to much, don't stop enough to breathe. I realized that the monotony of 2 working parents and 2 young children takes over and I forget that we are all lucky to just be here together, as a family. In honor of my friends little girl I vow to enjoy my girls more, color with them more, take my shoes off and play IN the sand box with them more. Life is short, moments are precious and although their loss is tragic it reset me, forced me to step back and promise to be the Mom I pictured myself being when I was pregnant. Today I found perspective- and I plan to keep it.

Things I love this week

I have discovered Pinterest. Yes I know I am always like a year late to the party but I LOVE IT. So this week I did a few new things. I cooked, and I ordered jewelery online and both were amazing.

I usually really dread the Tuesdays I work from home. They are so stressful to juggle the kids, working, and trying to ignore all the house chores, and I usually end up with a glass of wine by 5pm and a guilty feeling that I failed at both-being a good Mom and a good employee. Somehow yesterday I am pretty sure I did both well. So not only did I get a lot done, find time to color with Hayden and fold some laundry but I COOKED- and it was good. Thanks Pinterest for the recipe and the little bit of heaven that came in the mailbox at 6pm when I also had my wine :)

Crock Pot Lasagna- super easy and really good. Recipe is below.
http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/12/crockpot-lasagna.html

This necklace came in the cutest little box that Hayden immediately claimed as her own for her "fairies". I got some earrings too I will post a pic next time I wear them. All in all a great way to end a great day.

I love supporting people doing what they love and Etsy is the coolest site to check it all out.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/linkeldesigns

Spring Fever!

Well I guess this blog thing is harder than I thought. I felt like I have just posted and it turns out I haven't since January-WHAT! So I am going to work on getting better. I feel like I have to have something really important to write about but I am learning that really isn't the case.
     Well after a LONG winter we are starting to get some hints of Spring and it has been awesome. Easter day even hit 70 degrees and the girls had such a great time. Last year on Easter we way over did it with 5+ hunts but this year was much better. We only did one in the morning at our house and then we went to Nana's and Papa's for the big hunt. Both Aly and Hayden loved searching for eggs. It was hard to believe that last year Aly could only sit up at this time and now she is walking, talking, and even running to find eggs with the other kids.
     I think though the highlight of April for Hayden was going to Utah to see family and meet my brother Greg's new baby Hatcher Lee. It really is fascinating to see how baby girls just naturally have that mothering instinct. Hayden wanted to hold Hatcher from the moment we met him until the moment we left. She would kiss his head, and say "Isn't he darling". She would also paw at his head, and try to touch his eyeballs but that part isn't as sweet to talk about. It was a fun trip for Hayden and I to take all by ourselves. I hadn't been on an airplane since Hayden was 10 months old alone with her and boy has that changed. She sat nicely, colored, watched movies, and inhaled pretzels. On the flight down the flight attendants told me she was one of the best kids they have ever had on a plane. Once we got there it was a little more challenging because she was so very excited, but it was really great to have her meet my Grandpa (my Mom's Dad) and to spend time with my Mom's sister and her family. She also got to play with her much talked about cousin Audrey and they had a blast. I think these two will be life long friends. We really take advantage of having Ren's family so close and part of our everyday lives but it is important to make sure she knows my extended family as well. Next year we will take Aly too. Life is in full swing, and we are ever so busy but I will try and keep up on this more I promise. Check out pictures below of April 2012.



Starting off the egg hunt at Nana's





Aly and Toby




Aly and Daddy searching carefully.




Hayden's favorite person in the worl cousin Avery.




Aly has learned how to say "Cheese"





Hayden 4 1/2







Best Buds.




Hayden in her Utah hat Grandpa bought. Beautiful montains huh?





Hayden and Hatcher first meeting.









Grandpa and Audrey taking train to City Center in Salt Lake








Plate we made at Summer's bday party for special days.