Sunny September Days

Remember our snowy weather last week? Well, we have been cruising in the low 80s the last couple days. That is totally Colorado weather for you. Even though the warmth isn't quite your typical fall weather, I love it because it means Hallie and Claire can play outside for the meantime. Today Hallie was in love with picking dandelions. I remember loving that at her age. I can remember when my brother Daniel was born when I was three. I am dumbfounded that Hallie is already at an age where she could feasibly remember things like this for the rest of her life.

These will be precious memories though, won't they?

blurry but oh so cute!

These pictures make me want to keep these girls this way forever. Nevermind growing up. Stay little please.

exciting changes last week

We have had lots of exciting things happen this week.

We had our first snowflakes on Hallie's birthday! It looked beautiful and Hallie said "It's snowing for my birthday!" We put on her hat, scarf, coat, and mittens and let her run around in the little flurries. When she came inside, she made "snow angels" on the kitchen floor. I asked her what she was doing and she said "skating." Okay.

We got a swing set! Our kindly neighbors offered us theirs-- for FREE. It is heavenly. I open the windows and let her play in the back while I clean in the kitchen. It has a regular swing, a double swing, and an infant bucket swing. It also features a slide. I can push both girls at the same time. Hallie played in the backyard before, but with nothing but grass her time outside was limited. But now, our new toys lend her endless play. I love to watch her run around. But my favorite part is when she sits and daydreams. I can remember doing that in my backyard so vividly. It was during those times that I imagined what I would be when I grew up and what it would be like to be a mother.

Hallie got a new car. Our same "swing set" nieghbors gave us a little plastic Cozy Coupe. Hallie loves it when Daddy or Mommy push her around. She also loves to load up her princesses in the back and take them for rides. My favorite part of the car is when she takes imaginary trips to the grocery store to run errands for me. She gets me pretend milk, eggs, and bread several times a day. This morning I asked her where she was going and she said she was going to Costco to get me some cheese. It is so sweet it grabs at my heart.

Claire and Hallie have truly become friends. Twice recently Claire has been crying in the back seat and Hallie talks to her and her tears transform into giggles and squeals. Hallie also loves to pick out a blanket and tuck herself and Claire into it. Claire looks at Hallie with so much wonder. It is remarkable. When we found out we were having another girl our friends Luke and Ashley told us how precious it is to watch your children together as friends. We love it. I know as they grow there will be hair pulling, whining, and slugging. But I also know there will be slumber parties, hugs, and inside jokes.

Bad Day/Good Day

Bad Day (two days ago)

• I found out I made a HUGE mistake at work a couple months ago and it came back to haunt me.
• After months of no accidents, Hallie had two (both kinds if you must know) in one day
• Claire was exceptionally fussy.
• I got a crying headache. I hate those.

Good Day (today)

• I took the kids to the store and they were sweet, well-behaved children with only one minor meltdown (Hallie-style).
• We went to the park-- before I went, I gave Hallie a pep talk about how when I said it was time to go, she needed to be nice to me and not scream and run away. When the time came, she was great and followed me to the car. She waited patiently as I buckled in Claire. But when it was her turn to get in the car, she changed her mind and started running to the playground. I reminded her to "make a good choice." And she did! She stopped and thought about it and turned to run to me. Then she stopped and turned to run to the slide but at the last minute stopped again. Then, she turned around smiling and ran into my arms! I was so excited because she is great when we go places but miserable sometimes when we leave.
• Hallie went to the restroom at the restaurant and the store-- no problems.
• It was sunny and bright and the kids played on the swing set for an hour. Claire just hung out in the bucket swing and Hallie went down the slide at least thirty times. After each time she would yell "I did it!" and then come hug and kiss me. Hallie even had a little picnic on the double swing. She sat on one side and set her sandwich, chips, juice, and Oreos on the other side. It was cute and peaceful.
• Hallie called a bee a "bum-bum bee." It cracked me up.
• Chris brought me home some mums and a pumpkin yesterday. He knows I am a fall junkie.
• And my final reason that today is a good day is . . . It's Friday! I get to be with my husband for two whole days. Oh, and neither of us have to work. Yay.

Hallie in her birthday glory!

Here are some pictoral highlights in totally random order . . .



licking the frosting beaters!

Snow Whites and pudding!

this is my go-to princess hairstyle

playing with new toys in a new birthday outfit

birthday cake waffles (cake for breakfast once a year never killed anyone)

licking the spoon and bowl after we made pudding

Birthday Cake!

Hallie's Ariel cake is much different than I originally imagined, but I LOVE how it turned out. I wanted the water to look like, well, water so I thinned out my blue frosting. Instead of spreading it on smooth, I plopped it on the top and let it drip down the sides. For a "sand bank" for Ariel to sit on, I pressed light brown sugar into the sides. To fake the look of sea weed, I cut gummy worms in half. Chopped Mike and Ikes make air bubbles. The starfish are starburst. I heat them in the microwave for five seconds (so they get pliable) then I roll them out and use a small star cookie cutter to form them. Although Hallie mixed the cake and frosting with me, she didn't see me decorate it. When we showed it to her, she gasped with excitement. Just the reaction I was hoping for!

Birthday Party!

We had a "ball" at Hallie's third birthday party. It was fun, frugal, and stress-free. I loved doing this party because it satisfied my creative process and I just felt so happy to being doing something fun for Hallie's birthday. The invite and decorations were inspired by the picture of Hallie in her birthday dress. Can you guess what I spent on the decorations? $2.50! Yep, I said $2.50!

I was out of taper candles so I spent fifty cents on three at Dollar Tree.
























For the centerpiece, I used things I already had. A string of my (fake) pearls, leftover tissue paper, gold Christmas ribbon, crystal candle holders we got when we married . . .
Hallie's birthday chair was decorated and she had her picture on her plate.

I desperately wanted to buy a light blue damask table cloth but didn't want to spend the money. So I "wrapped" our table with Dollar Tree blue princess gift wrap.
Hallie's menu was based on her favorite foods and movies. We talked about the menu together so she talked for days about her "Robin Hood salad" and "Spaghetti and Meatballs just like Lady and the Tramp!"



























Hallie made every step of our "Hakuna Matata Bug Cups." She mixed the pudding, crushed the oreos, divided the servings and added the worms on top. When she ate it she told us it was "slimy yet satisfying" (just like they say in the movie).


















The wands are just breadsticks from a canister, I cut out star shapes for the top and brushed them with garlic butter then sprinkled on parmesan.

Raspberry Sherbet and Rasberry Soda made a perfect "princess party punch."





















Chris made a "birthday soundtrack" of Hallie's favorite music to play in the background. Some of the tracks were: Bella Note, Under the Sea, Be Our Guest, (you get the idea).

The other dollar was spent on princess balloons scattered throughout the family room.

so glad to be three!

Today our Hallie turns three! Chris and I keep talking about how we can't believe our baby is such a little lady. We have been preparing for her birthday and have both been on the verge of choking up several times. What an exhilirating, exciting three years it has been. First she was our little baby and now she is our little friend. Hallie brings us so much joy. She is daddy's little girl and mommy's best friend. We love you, Hallie!

a picture timeline