Parker's Day

There were times I wasn't sure if she was even going to make it to her 3rd birthday - from being banished after scribbling all over my walls, couch, pillows, hutch and ottoman with a Sharpee maker to our first experience with stitches this past year. But we did it!! I say "we" since I feel like this past year with Parker has been one of my most challenging years as a parent (yes, being pregnant, moving and then having a newborn again added to the chaos). A lot of reading, praying, crying, sharing went into guiding her terrible two's. I love her soooo much, but there is something about the 2nd child. They are born to humble us as parents I think.

Anyway, I decided to use Parker's birthday as an excuse to throw a fun party with the families in our small group from church. We watched Tangled on an inflatable movie screen outside with speakers while snacking on popcorn. We all brought our beach chairs and picnic blankets and made it a family fun evening for all! And my newly three year old watched the entire movie in my lap while tossing popcorn kernals in her mouth and sipping her juice box.

Our girls

Here are the rest of the cute pics from the previous photo shoot... so fun!

Quick update:
Rowyn - she is currently in the 50% percentile for weight and height & 75% in head size! My babies have big heads (this is a sign of intelligence just in case you didn't know). She is crawling all over, reaching for anything that looks enticing, pulling herself up to stand any chance she can get, and is FINALLY eating like a champ! Baby Ro-Ro (her nickname) is a happy baby and actually smiles on cue. For example, she was the most photogenic for the group photo shoot with her sisters. She has blond hair and blue eyes. Never underestimate the power of recessive genes. I didn't think it was genetically possible for Nate and I to create a baby who is this mellow and chill. Yesssss, I finally got a baby who is content to sit and play with a toy on the floor longer than 2 minutes. Oh, and she loves her pacifier. I kiss her all day long. I know my time is short at this stage.

Parker - we laugh at this kid every day. She has got the funniest, most hilarious facial expressions. She truly is her father's daughter. And, I think she looks more like Nate as she gets older. From her lean, muscle-y build to the timing of her laughs and sense of humor, I see Nate in our little Parker more and more. I say little since she is under the 25% in weight and wears a 2T even though she is 3 (as of July 2nd). She is still attending Speech Therapy once a week and is progressing very well in this area. She still has her own language, but she is getting clearer each week! Even though she still has an affinity for markers, she has mellowed down in her mischievous ways now that she is 3. BUT she still is crazy Parker who knows no fear and seems to accumulate an "owie" each day because she doesn't watch where she is going! Full steam ahead... all the time. But I do give her lots of kisses at night when she is asleep, quiet and still. She lives up to her middle name - Joy. She brings a lot of it to our home.

Haven - Our sweet, sensitive, responsible, first born who loves being the older sister and the center of attention. She is very mature, follows the rules, enjoys being creative, hates messes, wants to wear "Hello Kitty" skirts every day, likes to organize, volunteers to help me any chance she can get... I love having her around. Haven is very social and we are having play dates with her little girlfriends all the time. We are entering the age where I am noticing that we may not escape the following: Bieber Fever, American Girl dolls, hair tossing, hands on the hip coupled with a smart response, Justice clothing stores, insisting on doing her own hair, even sleep overs!! She is growing up so fast. One of my favorite things to see in Haven is her growing love for Jesus. We do devotions each night before bed and she has such a genuine heart to follow God. Observing this makes me think we can deal with the Bieber Fever.

Sneak Peak from Photoshoot

I am a member of a fun playgroup for Carlsbad mommies and kids. Joining this group was a life-saver when we moved here a year ago. There are always fun opportunities and playdates that we participate in each week... like a mini-photo shoot with a fabulous photographer! I woke up early this Saturday morning to curl the girls hair, dress them up in their favorite flouncy pettiskirts and drove 20 minutes to a flower field. This was our "sneak peak" shot that Stephanie, the photographer, posted on her blog today! I can't wait to see how the rest turned out!

Photographer's blog: http://www.joiedevivreimages.blogspot.com/

Some of my favorite things right now...

Some of my favorite things right now - fabric rose headbands and gold shoes.

Haven the star

We had a lot presentations to attend these last few weeks:
top photo: Haven's dance performance
middle photos: Preschool Graduation
Bottom photo: Drama class performance

We are always so excited to see Haven put 100% into all that she does. She loves to perform, dance and sing!!

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent Memorial Day at Coronado Beach. We really love the beach. I really love the beach too... it means there will be a nap or an early bedtime!

And now... Nana and Papa!

On to company round #3. We are lucky to have Nana and Papa here for a week. As you can see, it has been nothing but smiles and fun. They just got back from Legoland a few hours ago - their third visit within three weeks! So glad we invested in those passes...

This last picture is how we found Haven after a long day - passed out on her floor among her toys with her new dolly.

Kyleigh...

Next, arrived dear Kyleigh. Kyleigh was our favorite babysitter in Missoula, and Haven and Parker (as well as myself) have grown to love her. So, when Nate and I were thinking about celebrating our 10 year anniversary away somewhere, we knew we needed someone to watch the older two! I was so thankful to have Kyleigh around. I now understand why mom's employ nanny's. =0) We all enjoyed her company and help...

and Nate and I had a fabulous time at the Hotel Del Coronado. 10 years went by like a flash.

Real FOOD?

It may LOOK like Rowyn may be enjoying her sweet potatoes, but she still is getting used to the taste and texture of solids. The majority of the time she still gives me a funny face and spits it all out. She prefers mommy's milk. But I keep trying...

Grandma Gayle - known as GG

GG kicks off three weeks of company and FUN! My mom arrived to spend a few days with us... or should I say, her grand-girls. Trips like this always go by too quickly. But, we are thankful that we had a chance to spend a few days with her.

Happy Mama, Happy Day!

Happy Mother's Day!
Since I was queen of the day, I told my girls that mommy was going to pick out their outfits for church this morning. Thanks to Auntie Renee for the matching hot pink sweaters that came at Christmas (it was a chilly day), they looked down-right-darling for Mother's Day.

I was awoken this morning by Haven telling me she was taking me to a "fancy restaurant" and to follow her. She lead me to a beautiful breakfast spread at our very own kitchen table and I experienced five star service by my five year old! I felt so special.

I have been a mom for a little over five years and I feel like I am a totally different person in many ways... I am sure you moms out there can relate. Having kids has:
humbled me (HELLO, tantrums in public can reduce me to a blubbering mess).

opened my eyes to my Heavenly Father's love for me. So deep. So wide.

relaxed me (You mean I can't control everything?).

tapped into a whole new emotional side I never knew I had. I think I can cry on cue now.

slowed me down... so I don't miss the teas, the dance-a-thons and princess parties.

Thank you girls for teaching mommy a thing or two.

Easter

Easter is a celebrated day in our home. We celebrate Christ rising from the dead. Haven knows this since she told the Easter bunny (by speaking rather loudly thinking he was listening) that he is #2, not #1. Jesus is #1. But she still thinks the Easter Bunny brings baskets filled with goodies for sweet little girls. AND... for those who don't know, Parker fell and sliced her head open this last Monday and there are three stitches under the Bandaid on her forehead.

Without family close by, we gathered with the next best thing - friends! We enjoyed sharing a delicious ham lunch after church today with dear people that are in our small group from church. I brought my FAVORITE dessert that I try to make each year for Easter. I will post the recipe in case you may want to impress your next dinner guests. It feeds a crowd and never disappoints. It is the perfect Spring/Summer treat.

City Girl Fruit Trifle
1 qt Fresh Strawberries
2 T confectioner's sugar
1 C milk
1 large pkg vanilla instant pudding
1 C sour cream
1 pound cake (I like the Sara Lee family size pound cake found in the freezer section)
1 fresh orange
1 carton Cool Whip

Thinly slice strawberries and stir together with sugar; set aside. Put milk, sour cream, and pudding together and mix for 10 seconds at high speed. Slice pound cake (while frozen) and place layer in bottom of bowl - I use a clear glass pedestal bowl - it shows the layers and looks pretty! Cut orange into wedges and squeeze orange juice over pound cake. Then make a layer of pudding, then a layer of strawberries... then repeat layers till you reach the top of the bowl. Finally, top with whipped cream and garnish with whole strawberries if desired.