Day Trip

During the summer we decided to have each day be a different pre-determined activity. Monday craft, Tuesday Grandma's, Wednesday water, Thursday library and Friday adventure. We threw this schedule into the wind on week two when I realized we did not need to go to the library once a week. :) But, we still did so many fun things over the summer.

On this particular Friday (June 7th), we headed up to Woods Canyon Lake with Angela and Margo. We had a little picnic, walked around and just enjoyed the beautiful earth.

Margo tried to hug/strangle Hazel.

It really was spectacular. I can't look at things like this and not feel so much of God's love.

Clara found fishing line on a stick and tried to catch a fish with it.

Margo tried to eat string cheese through the plastic.

And we took lots of pictures and laughed and laughed at Margo and Hazel's faces (top left of Margo and bottom right of Hazel are the best).

I love that we can be in beautiful, cool pines in about an hour and a half from our house. It was a great little day trip. 

Fallbrook, CA June 2013

We went to California in the middle of June to celebrate Alexis' high school graduation. We stayed at Emily's. The humidity made Hazel's wings awesome.

We had a little party that night after the graduation (June 13th). We got some fun cheeses to eat with the other food. They were all good. I can't decide what my favorite was. It was a tie between the cheddar and the Hirten.

Alexis, Uncle James and boyfriend Bradley, who, if it wasn't obvious from the picture, graduated as well. 

We had some delicious food and I made candy leis for the graduates with some of their favorite candy. Originally I planned to make them for everyone at the party (20+) but ran out of time before we left town. I was so glad I ditched that idea because they were super cute, but they took a while to make. 

 

Friday we went to Oceanside beach with all my family that was in town. I love the beach. There were pelicans (I think it was the pelicans) flying in v formation all over and it looked so neat. 

Clara loved running from the waves, James held down the fort while we had lunch, Justin and Lilly dug to China, Margo was cute, my dad goes on vacation to get sleep, some adults lounging and me with my girls.

 

Pretty little mermaids.

Ryan and Kathryn were staying in a place across the street from the beach so we went there for lunch. It was nice to break up the day at the beach and not have to eat a sandy lunch on the beach.

For dinner that night we went to Smashburger. It was my first time there. I got a black bean burger and will probably never get that again. I liked the restaurant, but my black bean burgers are way better. Anyway, at least I got a super cute picture of Hazel there.

 Saturday we went to the Strawberry Fields, Balboa Park and the Mormon Batallion. 

I have been to Balboa Park a few times, but this was the first time that I really walked around and realized how many cool buildings there are at the park. 

 

The Mormon Batallion memorial thing wasn't what I expected. It was fun, but I didn't realize it was a program thing you had to stay and sit through, so I got a bit antsy because I wasn't expecting to spend a lot of time there. Had we not been in a hurry to go see Nikki, I probably would've enjoyed it more. 

After that, we hiked up the steep, steep hill we parked on the top of and headed down to Rancho Bernardo to hang out with Nikki and her family. Nikki is my longest friend ever and the fact that we can pick up after not seeing each other for so long and have a grand old time makes me think we were definitely friends in Heaven. Our girls also seem to love each other and Braun and Jason have a good time together. So good, in fact, that they got jealous of taking our picture and asked if they could have a picture together. Nerds.  

Sunday was Father's Day so we went to Sacrament Meeting and then went home and had brunch for the dads. Kind of funny that we were in CA on Mother's Day last year. I got a few pictures with just my dad and then my family with my dad. I love my dad and also Jason, who is such a good dad to our girls. 

After brunch, we visited and played for a little longer. Hazel had a love/hate relationship with Sydney, Clara loved the swing and play house (when we first arrived, she said, "Mom, look! This is the tree house Justin built for me.")

I love having older nieces and nephews that help with my kids and love them. It's sweet. Lucy, Elsa and Clara in this picture are playing "who can be the best..." with Uncle Clint, and he said spider web. So these three girls teamed up and Clara was the web and Lucy and Elsa together made a complete 8-legged spider. Then there is Hazel who was a bit infatuated with Uncle Mick's yellow pool table.

We didn't want to get home too late, so we headed home a few hours after brunch. Hazel was exhausted and between the comfort of her thumb in her mouth and my hand in her other hand, she was out in about 4 minutes. We stopped at Taco Bell in Blythe, so that's what Jason got for lunch/dinner on Father's day. Don't worry, I made up for it the next night.

And finally, Hazel sang us a few rounds of "Itsy, bitsy spider". I hope I got some of it on video. Both of my girls are pretty awesome travelers. It sure makes road trips that much more fun. 

It was a fun trip and I'm glad that we don't live that far away from family that is out of state so we can still be there to celebrate with them.

Regrets

I was supposed to wake up at 4am and work. I didn't. Instead, I woke up at 7am and read my scriptures. I was supposed to work all day. I didn't. I am further behind than ever. The miscarriage, visitors and vacations this summer have sent me to an all new low of over-committing my time. All day I thought, I'm going to regret this. I spent my day making breakfast for Clara, Jordyn and Hazel. Just as soon as I'd satisfy one request, another would surface. Hazel didn't really eat her bagel and when she saw me with my green smoothie, she requested one of her own. Then we cleaned a little.

Eventually we made it to my mom's where we swam for hours with Lilly. I sat and watched Clara and Jordyn dive into the pool, play "Monkey in the Middle" with a giant, colorful beach ball, go down the slide over and over and over, jump off Lilly's shoulders and do watermelon dives. I listened to them laugh continuously. I watched Hazel play in the little swimming pool that my mom has for the little kids. I watched her go down the little roller coaster, over and over and over, lifting her hands high in the air. At first, with my help, then, on her own. I watched her smile over and over and over. I heard both of my girls giggle when they went #1 outside. I documented Lilly climbing onto the roof and jumping into the pool while the little kids stared in amazement. We all tasted warm, homemade cookies with cold milk, compliments my mother.

I helped the girls bake cupcakes as I made dinner for Jordyn's family. I watched them enjoy licking the batter bowl... and the frosting beaters. I saw them create their masterpieces and laughed with Clara when half a bottle of sprinkles fell onto her cupcake. I watched Hazel spend the entire hour decorating one single cupcake with more sprinkles than frosting.

At Landry and Keirsten's, I melted when I saw the way my girls adored baby Avery (and I might've cried a little inside, hoping they get their own baby sibling someday soon). I laughed when Hazel said, "Her has a puple swim suit on" about Avery's purple onesie. I heard them giggle and screech with Ethan and watched them give hugs. I watched their eyes light up as they interacted with cousins.

I carried Hazel into Sam's Club and held Clara's hand as we walked through the parking lot. We looked at glasses and laughed at the goofy ones. Hazel asked me if we could buy something as we walked out the door empty-handed. In the car, I listened to Hazel "read" a book and Clara play with a toy.

We came home and I looked into two tiny sets of eyes as I brushed teeth. I gave kiss after kiss. Their warm, soft cheeks are something I will miss when they grow up. We held hands, prayed together and read scriptures. I laid in a twin bed with both girls and told them about riding down the stairs in our first Snowflake house on cardboard boxes. They love stories about when I was little. We laughed and then said our goodnights and our I love you's multiple times. Walking into my room to work, I noticed Hazel's door open, which meant she had snuck into my bed. Again. I turned a light on in my dark room to find my tiny little girl snuggled under my big, white fluffy blanket, just a blink or two away from sleep. I carried her into her room and laid her in bed and watched as she practically fell asleep before I completely let go.

I came into my room, eager to document my happy day. I should be working and I will work, but today was great. I'm pretty sure in the days to come (or tonight when I'm up until the middle of the night?), I'll regret not working today. However, that will pass and never will I regret not working today.

May

Believe it or not, I don't really love sharing so many pictures in collage form. But trying to keep up with my work, my house and my kids and blog how I'd like, isn't a reality. In fact, I'm not really keeping up with my work or my house. But hey, we're having fun and making memories so I guess that's what matters most.

So let the super speedy story telling begin...

Take-out from Olive Garden and 3-D movie with Jordyn one Friday night. Hazel looks so cute in her glasses.

Saturday morning Pain Au Chocolat from Proof Bread with the Hardisons, followed by story time and tickle monsters.

 

Went to Mt. View's art show to see work by James and Lilly. James won a prize for his photos.

Hung out with Beka, her boys and some neighbor boys. There were 6 boys and Clara. Someone said, "Everyone get the girl!" So, Clara got hose privileges since she was clearly outnumbered. We had fun and both girls fell asleep on the way home.

Cupcakes with black frosting are never a good idea...

James broke his foot and my mom was out of town when he needed to get it casted so I took him. It was the first time I'd ever seen the process and it was really fascinating. Plus, the Dr. that did it is hilarious and gave my girls the excess cotton to play with. Clara didn't waste any time putting it to use.

Clara was usually up before me during school because I would set her alarm. She'd come in and we'd have snuggle time early in the morning in the quiet house. I'm dreading the day she's too big to climb into bed with me.

Clara had her dance recital and did great. I brought my nice camera to film and realized about 5 seconds before the dance was over that I hadn't ever started filming. Grrr. At least there are performance videos available. Afterwards, we celebrated at Neilson's.

Holly's little girl Eisley came over and Hazel loved having a little friend.

Margo also came over (multiple times). These two have the strongest love-hate relationship. It seems to intensify the longer Hazel is two and the closer Margo gets to turning two.

Hazel loves to be outside. One morning I sat outside so she could roam and she walked across this bridge about 100 times, gathered rocks and put them in my hand to hold and then finished off the morning by stomping on ants.

One day, Hazel kept calling me "little queen".

Clara always loves irrigation. One day in May, it was extra special because some ducks came to visit so she got to feed them.

We celebrated Karen's birthday at our house with homemade chicken noodle soup and mini fruit pizzas.

Clara being a little gymnast.

If you haven't played with a magnifying glass, try it. It provided lots of entertainment for us

I got breakfast in bed for Mother's Day. I kept trying to take a picture of my food tray, but a little hand kept sneaking in to pinch off pieces of my waffle. She makes me laugh. I love being a mother and I love my mother. I'm also grateful for a husband that celebrates me that day, giving me a little time off. We got cute and delicious cupcakes in Relief Society. I'm still feeling bad for the lady that had to make them all on Mother's Day.

I have been obsessed with Del Sol color changing nail polish. It changes color from the sun and for me, it never gets old.

My poor little klutz was trying to climb on the chair and fell. Her tooth cut her lip on the inside and the chair rubbed the skin off on the outside. It makes me cringe, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by her injuries too much.

Impromptu photo booth Sunday morning.

Memorial weekend was good and bad. I tried to enjoy things and not think too much about the baby situation. I got D-Back tickets from my client so Jason and I had dinner at Windsor and then went to the game. It was fun and perfect timing.

We spent most of Memorial Day swimming at my mom's and just hanging out. For the record, it's also the day I miscarried. Just like with my last, I felt SO much better after that. 

Daniel and Ashley were in town for the long weekend. Here Daniel is with his ladies and Lady. 

One of my favorite thing about my parent's is the giant tree that always has swings in it. They strapped three swings together and at one point, four, to make a mega swing. So fun.

Now for the massive collages...

Left to right, top to bottom: our dryer "broke". I dried our clothes this way for weeks until Jason had time to look at it. He looked at it, tested it and couldn't find anything wrong so he tried it and it worked just fine. He pushed it back into place and it wouldn't work. He soon realized the closing mechanism was broken so you had to shut it just right.|:|Tea party with paper plates.|:|Jason got a water bag thing at a golf tournament and gave it to Clara. Clara made Hazel one to match.|:|Jason cleaning our house for our appraisal with his headlamp on.|:|Clara and Jordyn colored animals and did a play for me. I love their creativity.|:|Swinging with Margo.|:|Hazel loves her green smoothies.|:|Swinging at my neighbor's.|:|In panties and Mommy's shoes.|:|Mother's Day with my mom and the little people that I mother.|:|First scorpion of the year.|:|Field day at school.|:|When I'd tell Hazel to stop sucking her thumb, she'd just put her blanket over her head and suck it, like I wouldn't noticed. Then we lost her blanket (pretty sure something at it at my mom's, because it's been two months and we still haven't found it). Anyway, she stopped sucking her thumb. Until she started sleeping with Clara's pillow that is made from the same material as her blanket was.|:|Cute little dress-up.|:|Clara made a list of some of my choices for Mother's Day breakfast.|:|Kisses after nap. I love Hazel's tiny, but plump, little cheeks. 

Just laying comfortably on the tile.|:|Jason's car had some issues Memorial Day weekend. He thought it might be the battery, but AutoZone tested it and said it was the alternator. So he replaced the alternator. Then, it had the same problem, so our mechanic looked at it, noticed a corroded cable and fixed it. The next day, it wouldn't start at all when Jason attempted to come home from work. Our mechanic came to the parking lot and replaced the starter. He's such a nice guy.|:|Snuggles with Dad.|:|Clara loves to make cards and write notes. She got in trouble and wrote this note to me. My favorite was the last line: can we snugl.|:|A tiny bit dazed.|:|Library visit.|:|Boots, swim suit and safari hat. Sounds about right.|:|Black, white and red never get old.|:|Hazel decided to pee her pants at KS while I was delivering payroll. Awesome.

One day Clara decided she wanted to give pedicures.|:|Simon Says for FHE.|:|Hazel loved sitting in the car with me while we waited to pick up Clara.|:|Silly girl.|:|Yes, I did let Clara wear snow boots and keep her sword stuck in her shirt while we went to Sprouts.|:|Giant moth.|:|More boots and swim suit weather.|:|I love this face.|:|Hazel making a green smoothie.|:|Fresh flowers.|:|More lap sitting in the car while waiting for Clara.|:|More Jordyn love.|:|Jason all sweaty and dirty after changing his alternator.|:|I think I found a gray hair.|:|I bought some awesome tights last time I miscarried. I did the same this time. I think it was a coincidence.|:|Jason and the girls going black widow hunting.

May 18th was party day for us. We had three parties, two for the whole family and one that was just for Clara. It was busy but fun. At Ethan's, they had a water balloon fight. That's always fun.|:|The birthday boy.|:|Clara, Jason and Hazel playing doctor Memorial weekend. I just laid and watched and was full of love and gratitude for my little family.|:|My kids don't usually fall asleep, but apparently Hazel was exhausted. So cute.|:|It just so happened that the night my girls had a sleepover at Grandma's, Jason had a softball game. I was excited to be able to watch his game without having to watch the kids. Then they forfeited. I stayed to watch the championship game since Jason was asked to be an umpire.|:|Clara's princess tea party meant dressing up. Super fun and super cute.|:|Jamming out and playing the air guitar. Another moment over Memorial weekend that I wished I could record my feelings because I felt so happy and blessed.|:|Playing a game with Dan and Karen.|:|Crazy eyes.|:|Mother's Day romping.|:|The cute card Clara made for her friend.|:|When I was pregnant, every morning Clara would come pat my belly and talk to the baby. She'd ask, "How'd you sleep?" or "Are you comfortable in there?" or say things like, "Don't worry, you'll get to eat soon." She is such a sweet big sister and I can't wait until she gets that opportunity again.