Thursday, September 26, 2013

A ray of sunshine

 A little word to miss Eliana:
Eliana we let you walk the store.
We want you to know we love and trust you.
I saw you wandering through the clothes.
You didn't touch them, you just wanted to walk under them.
Feeling them brush the top of your head.
You said "Hi" and "See ya" to everyone who walked by you.
Even the little girl who kept giving you looks.
Yes, I saw her but you did a great job handling it.
You kept saying "Hi" to her and babbling what you know until she finally gave in.
Perhaps it was her sparkly skirt, tight ponytail, or older age that made her act the way she did.
Maybe it's because you are so innocent and have no idea what a mean facial expression means
But you kept smiling.
She couldn't handle your sweet countenance.
She gave in and gave you a smile.
You slipped and fell.
Poor old man who walked off saying you scared him.
I appreciated his concern but you stood right back up and cleaned your hands.
Without thinking about it you admitted that it hurt and asked me to kiss your hands.
They were a bit dirty but I did it any way.
Some may say gross but I appreciate your courage and for letting me know that I am the first person you will go to and trusting that I will make it all better.
You are a strong little girl.
Not because you don't cry.
You have those moments.
But because even when an avalanche of toys falls on you, you stay there and ask for help.
I am always watching you but I let you take control of the situation because I know that you are brave enough to ask for help when you can't handle it.
Every day I learn from you and feel the blessings from the Lord in helping me understand him more through you and your brother.
You love to talk but we know that you just love letting us know that you are learning and that you know that " it's daddy, it's mommy, it's Minnie, and Donald, and Daisy, a dog, a book, clothes, girl, boy, bubba, water...etc.
And when you don't know "What's that?....Oh!..(repeat the word or phrase)"
In your eyes we can see that you love learning and sharing what you learn.
When someone's phone fell you immediately ran for help yelling "Oh no! Phone!"
No matter where you are, you are never too shy to ask a doll or stuffed animal to dance.
 
When it comes to your first job you are 100% doing a great job.
Yes, that includes annoying him.
You try to teach him everything that you know and try to (or what you consider) protecting him.
You get so excited sometimes even more than we do
when he does something new.

....and nothing can stand in the way
 

Keep being who you are and never change.
Yes, there are some things that we will get onto you for doing
but because we love you.
When I grow up I want to be like you.
You are everything a mother could ever ask for and way more.
I love you so much princess.

Park City and Rice Krispies

I have a bucket list.
Ok. MANY bucket lists.
One is of the things I want to do in Utah before we move.
Things have slowed down recently with Dr. visits and errands that we have time to do as we please.
On this list was Park City.
I have been wanting to visit but dislike driving in the rain or snow.
I had heard about how amazing it is.
Last Saturday Sept the 21st my hubby took me so that I could cross if off my bucket list.
The weather was beautiful.
A little windy but gorgeous.
It was nice to walk down main street but to tell you the truth I just didn't see what the whole deal is about.
I don't know.
It may be that I just don't like spending money and that is all I saw.
Places to spend.
There may have been more but I will have to try to research again before ever going again.
I did enjoy the weather, the sun (something I never like to enjoy) and being with my lovely family.
Liam slept most of the time.
What can he say. He just loves noise to put him to sleep.
I mean we live near construction and our townhouse always shakes but he doesn't care.
In fact, one time I walked to the mall and we passed the worst noise I
could ever hear.
We were literally a foot from it and he just zonked out.
I think the best part of this trip is realizing that Eliana is finally letting me do things to her hair.
So proud of my braids there.
I should also let you know that I re-braided her hair about 4 times each side.
Such a cutie.








Here are a couple of pictures at a near by park where we had a "picnic".
He is truly a wonderful father.
She kept driving him all over the park and always ended back at the swings.
She also likes to swing in the "big kids" swing.







Anyways moving on to the most exciting part of the week so far.
We had been wanting to make rice Krispy treats for quite some time now.
The last time we bought Rice Krispy cereal I ended up just eating it all for breakfast.
Not at one time.
This time we were going to do it as a Family Home Evening activity but the kids fell asleep really early so we went to bed right after them.
We couldn't let another day pass by.
We found a nice tip of adding Nutella as a frosting.
Casey did most of the work.
Eliana helped.
Liam just chillaxed and I took care of the music and photography.
Eliana did such a great job until she started eating the Rice Krispie.
I then gave her a bowl of her own but she played with that instead.
I just let her make the mess of her life.
I mean come on she has to live a little.
She was done once the mess started sticking to the soles of her feet.


But it was a great memory and family fun.
Here is the master piece.


                             Nailed it! Haha



I also wanted to share this picture of the kids on this blanket.
There is history.
Not just any blanket.
This blanket was made and given to Casey when he was born by his grandmother and the kids have been using it.
I just think it is adorable that there is a boy and a girl.
Such Precious Moments.
Sorry Eliana blocked the girl.
It is crazy how great this blanket has been even for being at 25 years old. Love it!

I also finally went to get my ring resized.
I mean who cares about fitting back into old clothes and trying to fit into my ring.
If I keep that up who knows when I will actually fit back.
I am proud of this body and what it does.
I am proud that I have had two full term babies who are healthy (Even with disabilities)
I have had two other babies and will continue to have more.
Sorry I could go on for ever.
Can't you just tell how happy I am?
That could also be because this weekend the hubby surprised me with a weekend in Moab!!
I'll have to share that when we get back.
Have a wonderful weekend mes amis!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

To my Best Friend:
Someone once told me, when we were engaged
"Come down from the clouds"
I was excited.
I paid no attention to that and continued to be in disbelief.
I was engaged to my to my Best Friend.
9-4-10
Three years ago my life changed when you messaged me.
You finally got the courage to ask me out.
Even when you were tired from being out so late hiking Mt. Timp you picked me up to head to the mountains. A tradition a group of my friends had.
Who knew that I would be falling in love that night.
I didn't want the night to end.
No awkward silences.
No weird conversations.
Just two old friends catching up.
Laughing.
Smiling.
Forgetting we were with other people.
I'm glad some one took pictures of us.
We will have that memory and a picture to share with our children.
Not one day passed that I didn't see you.
Only when I had to leave to prepare for the wedding.
Each day I learn something new about you.
Not a boring day in our lives.
You ARE MY Best Friend.
I am blessed to have you in my life.
Every day I fall in love with who you are and are becoming as a spouse and father.
I am still on Cloud 9.

23 months 10 months

Dear Eliana,
Our Eli Belly Jelly Bean.
A year ago this picture was taken of you at a park with a pond.
I can still remember like it was yesterday.
You loved the ducks and you wanted to walk by yourself like you were a big girl and didn't need mommy or daddy.
You were very bright then, and you are still very bright.
Bright in spirit and we can see it in your eyes.
Today.
You are under a month from turning two.
You have so much to learn but you learn so fast that I am running out of things to teach you.
I will be learning as much as you will be.
Sometimes I wonder "What goes on through your mind? What are you thinking?"
Can't wait to beautify you and take you out on your special day!

Oh wittle man!
A month and a half and you will be 1.
You are the bravest and cutest (even if the biggest) baby I have seen.
You make this family complete.
You sweet spirit is just amazing.
We love you soooooo so much!



Thursday, September 19, 2013

Aug - Sept

I was trying to figure out if I wanted to take the time and make individual posts or just one long post about this month.
So I went with just one post.

Aug 7 
Casey's section of the school had a party.
A hawaiian party.
They had some delicious food.
Don't know what it is called but it was delicious.
It was bit windy but had great food and games we didn't play.
As you can see Eliana was enjoying the food.
We left a little early because it was beginning to sprinkle.






Miss Eli is getting big and wants to be a big girl.
If you look closely her right eye looks bruised.
No worries.
It's just make up and she is showing what make up she is using.


Casey and I have finally made time for each other and we decided to visit the Timp Temple.
Beautiful Temple. Absolutely Beautiful.
I am just going to ruin the moment for a sec.
Don't mind me.
On our way to the temple, on the freeway, as we talked a bird flew right in front of us.
If you can imagine.
We hit it.
Quite sad actually.
When we arrived to the temple, the bird was stuck in the car.
It looked dead, but we left it.
Back to the beautiful temple.
We figured we should attend the temple that was near the hospital Liam was born at.
Gorgeous in different ways during the day and at night.




 Here is a picture of Eliana who I caught sneaking my glasses on.
She kind of reminds me of Jeanette from the Chipettes.
 She is such a cutie.
This is while I was trying on some clothes.
 After buying Eliana a book called "I am a Big Sister" she kept asking to hold Liam.
"Care?" She asks. You will see more ahead.


 Liam turned 9 months on Sept 15 and he is getting soooo big.
Heavy if you can imagine.
Don't mind my hair. I was still in my pjs as you can see.

We found his September Slumber Spot!
Nobody move, please!

 After Liam's appointment in Salt Lake we were starving.
So we took a trip to the City Creek Mall and had late lunch there.
It was our first time tasting the Red Dragon.
Mexican food.
I would never have guessed that.
It was delicious though.
Here is Eliana stuffing her mouth.

 We didn't stop there.
Afterwards we let Eliana have a little fun.
This was her first time playing in the playground they have there.
Dinosaur theme.
She was afraid at first but once she saw all the kids touching and nothing coming to live, she began to play.
I asked Casey to sit with me and we would watch her to see how courageous she would be.
Then she disappeared. 
Then we found her.
Casey ran to her since she had climbed onto the Triceratops  neck on her own.
It was quite funny.


 If you are wondering what Eliana is wearing.
It is not a back pack.
Their grandma (Callison) sent some stuffed robots with velcro on their hands for them.
They just loved them.
They even say things and make robot sounds.
It is pretty cool.






We have come to discover that Eliana just loves to pretend to be a Doctor.
I think we may have an idea on what to buy her for her birthday.




August 22
We had an invitation to the Brain Injury Alliance Baseball Game.
It was Eliana and Liam's first baseball game.
Eliana enjoyed it and Liam was able to sit with help for a while.
It was a beautiful evening.
It wasn't cold. It wasn't hot. It was perfect.
It was a great way to relax after a long day of cleaning.
There were lots of seats available but we chose a great spot with a bench and where our double stroller would fit.
But like always we had to leave early because it was beginning to rain.




 During September, my craftiness was itching to come out.
So I asked Casey if I could have some time to do something.
But instead we did it together.
We painted Liam's crib to match Eliana's toddler bed. 
And I sewed up a crib bumper with some fabric I had bought so long ago.
I also made Eliana a blanket for her bed. 
The crib took us about a week to finish because of the layers and the drying. 
But look at the beautiful masterpiece. 
The best part is we have enough to paint another crib, if needed.
We worked on the crib every night after the kids fell asleep. It was relaxing and Casey and I had plenty of time to talk and plenty to talk about. I was able to get to know my husband a little more. Eliana and Liam love it.


We were also able to go to a park that we hadn't gone before and take Eliana.
 There was a small playground for preschoolers. 
Can you guess?
We had it all to ourselves.
There was a beautiful sunset.
Eliana loved it and showed off her monkeyness.
She also had time to play alone. 
She even swung in the swing set.
She is such a big girl!





This month my sweet husband has been so amazing and has surprised me.
One without meaning to.
I found the chocolate after half a week that he had bought them.
Then he surprised me with my favorite plant in my favorite color.
Oh yea.
I'm a lucky gal.
The best part is that the plant doesn't need a whole lot of care, especially with these kiddos who keep me busy.



I have also been able to do things with the kiddos.
Eliana is in such a fun age and she loves to learn a whole lot.
I can't tell you how many words and phrases she knows because they are way too many to count.
But while I feed Liam she is such a good girl and is easily entertained while I am busy.
We even bought an ipad with the help of their grandparents (Callison) as an early christmas gift.
No it was not for our fun.
With Liam's sensory problems early intervention asked us to get one or we would have to wait in line for months to borrow one from them.
So it has been great for both of them.

 
 


September 4
Casey invited us on a date.
Celebrating our 3 years from our first date.
So I spent the morning girlying it up with my baby girl.
She stood still long enough so that I could pin curl her hair.
It was a sweet moment with my silly baby.

We had a great evening.
I mean look that handsome little guy with his faux hawk. 
We had Indian food for the first time.
It was quite delicious.
They were very polite.

 



 Later that week 
Casey and I 
had time alone in 
Salt Lake.
We even celebrated with a 
chocolate cake from 
the Cheesecake Factory.
Also, so delicious.





 These last couple of weeks have been full of fun at parks and just enjoying the end of the summer.





 This is a picture of Eliana's shoe at a church parking lot where we had not realized we had left it there when it fell out of a stroller.
We went back over an hour later.
Score, still there.

 Eliana is always wanting to "care" her brother. She even is so helpful that she feeds him. I just love getting her smile after she knows she is such a great big sister.



 This has got to be my most favorite family date of all time.
So far.
Last weekend Sept 15 my husband was so sweet and took us to a beautiful garden. 
It was huge a just amazing. 
We weren't able to finish looking at everything. 
We should have rented a golf cart but no worries, next time.
Because there WILL be a next time.
We wanted to see the children's garden but it started to rain so we had to leave.
There were beautiful waterfalls.
Plants in the shape of hearts. flowers and leaves.
Eliana walked the majority of the time so you can imagine how beat she was.
It was great for us.
They had a tasty cafe where we had lunch.
And huge fish that opened their mouth so we would feed them but we didn't have quaters.
The funny part about that is that they followed us until we were out of the bridge.
They were beautiful. 
They had a gorgeous pond full of lily pads.
It was just a breath taking garden.
Our next alone date may just be there only we are bringing a picnic.

 The boat is Noah's arc and it was a good size. Sadly it began to rain but we will be back!