And the typing begins . . .

After nine faithful years of service our computer monitor died.  I had to take a forced hiatus as Chris and I determined what was the best solution.  Do we buy a new monitor?  A new computer?  We ultimately decided we didn't want to buy a new monitor because we hope to save for a new laptop in the next years and we certainly don't need a desktop monitor in that case.  So, I am starting my venture of blogging while looking at my TV.  Chris set up our computer so that I sit on the couch and type via a wireless keyboard.  Pretty cool stuff.

The time away from the blog have given me time to reflect on things what I want to write about.  I love writing so I can't wait to do more.  I actually get to do a decent amount of writing these days.  I write occasionally in a personal journal.  I write our family journal.  I write stories about amazing medical consultations for my job and now I'll do more fun writing here. 

Here are some of the things of note lately:

Chris finished another school year and it is now his full-time job to make me happy.  I think that was already his goal in life but it is so magnified when he is off work.  It is embarrassing how much he does for me and our family around our house.  He helps with laundry, dishes, sweeping, tending kids . . . whatever kind of service he can tackle, he is doing it.  You would think he has a wife that constantly harps on him and begs for his help.  I promise I don't!  I am the type that even when I am failing miserably, I think I can do anything!  I just married an extremely selfless human being.  That my friends, is the way to go!

Hallie told me the other day that she wished my dad died with a cell phone.  For a brief second I thought it was slightly morbid but then she said "Then I could talk to him in heaven all the time!"  I thought that was extra sweet.  She just finished her first year of preschool with a special graduation party on Thursday.  I am happy that we have elected to keep her home from school for one more year.  With her late September birthday she could technically attend Kindergarten this fall.  But our school district has all-day preschool and I just want my sweet girl home for one more year.  And so, she stays . . . and I am thrilled. 



Claire loves to march around in circles when excited.  She talks so much.  Today she told me "I don't want to take a nap yet.  And I don't want to take a nap because (pause) I don't want to take a nap now."  I loved her reasoning.  When Claire gets spunky, which with her personality is kinda frequent, she looks at us and says "I be nice!  I be nice!"  She knows temper tantrums are cause for brief bedroom time-outs.  She is in love with little babies.  She frequently yells out in our quiet church meetings "I see baby!  Cute baby!"  My close friend, Ann, just had a baby named Mikayla.  Claire loves Mikayla.  Whenever we get in the car she says "We go see baby Kayla's house?"  She also frequently talks about going to Target.



The girls love to play in the dirt in the backyard.  They have their own plastic garden tools so they set themselves to very important tasks of tossing dirt to and fro.  I love watching them play in the backyard.  Chris and I sit in our garden swing and watch Hallie dance and Claire toddle and I can't help but gush about how much I love being a parent.  These kids are fun and funny.  They are also cross and moody.  But they are so worth it.  Besides, I like to think I am fun and funny but I am for SURE cross and moody too.

Mother's Day 2011

One of the best parts of Mother's Day this year were the words Hallie uttered when she realized it was Mother's Day.

"Mother's Day?" long sigh "I wish it was KIDS day!"

Someday she will realize the point of one Mother's Day is because every day is kids day.

For Mother's Day I received my long-coveted lounge chair.  This summer I will be able to read in the backyard without dragging a sheet out onto the lumpy grass.  I so look forward to it!

Chris also scored great deals (as in next to free) on three exciting books for me: two gardening books and Gone with the Wind.  I picked out the chair but the books were a total surprise.  Chris said I had to have something to read when I was outside enjoying my chair.  Sounds great to me!

That evening, after nice meetings at church, we hosted a Mother's Day Tea for our family and Mom H.  After dinner, the girls watched Tangled again with Grandma and I chatted on the phone with my Mom in CA.  Meanwhile, Chris hand washed and dried every last piece of china.  Sigh.

I sure love Mother's Day.  But do you know what I realized this time around?  Chris helps me out like this every day.  He doesn't even consider it helping out -- he just does it.

My Grandma Allen's wedding china

Some of our tea party treats

Hallie and Chris made a custom card for me.

The second Claire handed me this gift she said "I need chocolate, Mom!"

Claire colored her first bookmark for me.

Crepes bubbling on the griddle

We only took one group of pictures and we couldn't for the life of us get Hallie to take her whipped cream covered hands out of her mouth.  Hence the orangutan-esqe features of my first born.

As Hallie went to bed she mumbled again her hopes that tommorow would be Kids Day.  And it was.  And today is too.  But I still enjoy these days too!

quick shot of gratitude

I need to write a quick post of gratitude. 

Mainly, I know because it will do my heart some good.

You see, Claire was a TERROR at the grocery store today. 

Employees stopped me four times to ask if I needed help.

I already let her climb into one of those carts that has a HUGE plastic car bolted to the front.

It is basically like driving the motorhome of the grocery cart world.

Two minutes into that and she was screaming and whining that she needed help.

Free cookies and cheese offered by employees only succored her insatiable appetite for grouch for about 30 seconds each.  I ended up cradling her twisting body while pushing the tug boat size cart filled with a week's worth of groceries.  I actually kept my cool.  But that doesn't mean my insides weren't boiling!

So, even though nap time is just around the corner.  I wanted to write things I was grateful for.  Because looking at these pictures already brought my blood pressure down and made me smile.

This hill.

This hill is much steeper and longer than it appears.

Claire ran the entire length.

This child only started walking four months ago so this is a BIG deal.

I was really proud of her perserverance.

I could tell she was so grateful for the ability to run.

Hallie found a mud puddle.

I was disheartened for about three seconds before I was so grateful that she could jump in puddles and enjoy the fun, spontaneous wonders that life has to offer.

On this day, the girls were good at the grocery store.  They sat down quietly together and just looked so darn cute.  As I looked at them I thought how much a picture like this would stop my beating heart in years to come.  They are just so young . . . and pink . . . and those pig tails.  I was really moved in that moment.

Nevermind that right after I wrote that sentence Claire threw herself to the ground in a red-faced fit (arched back and all).  Perhaps, as I pick up her screaming, stiff little body and lie it into bed I can already think about those sweet kids in the shopping cart and reflect on how those moments make these moments erase.

Our Easter Sunday

Easter Morning

My lone Easter decoration this year. 

This was all I could muster pulling out . . . but we were totally fine with it.

The Easter bounty.

Claire's is on the left.  Hallie's is on the right.

These Easter Bunny collected these slowly over months.

The gift drawer is now barren.

  

The hunt begins . . .

Hallie pilfered through her basket in an excited frenzy.

  

The hunt continues . . .

Assessing the goods . . .

It wouldn't be Easter in Colorado without the first snow in months.

Claire finally slowed down long enough to enjoy her book and chair.

Easter Dinner

Mom H. hosted Easter Dinner this year.  Boy were we ever grateful. 

One - I didn't have to cook at all that day.  Two - she knows how to throw a true celebration!

The Easter Bunny hopped over to Grandma's house for us too.  (Again . . . so lucky!)

Gorgeous.

Not only is she an honest to goodness natural-born cook.  She knows how to pick great recipes.

Most of these were new and they were awesome!

Okay, I'm ready for Easter again!

To celebrate the real meaning of Easter, we talked a lot about it around the house the week leading up and the days after.  At least Hallie knows that the reason we will see Grandpa and Uncle Mike again is because of the Savior, His Atonement and Resurrection.  We watched "He is Risen" and played with a little tomb I made for a visual aid.  Hallie loved rolling the tomb over Jesus when he was dead and then rolling it away to show Him alive again.

We hope you had a happy Easter.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Claire!

It happened . . . our baby turned two! 

She is in that adorable phase where she copies everything you say.  I love this age!

One other thing she loves to do is say "Mommy, I baby!" And then she falls into my arms, sticks out her tongue, and acts like a little baby.  She does it to Chris too.  We can't help but love her little chipmunk smile and cuddly ways.

Here are some highlights of her family dinner/Minnie Mouse party . . .