Life caught from a cell phone lens- January

The kids played at the play land.  I felt grateful that I got to keep Grant in my lap for a couple months more. Soon enough he'll be hauling off with the others!

Hallie came up with a mystery case of hives. 

Visits to the pediatrician and allergist and two months later, the cause is still undetermined.

Apparently the majority of cases in children are.

But, they have calmed down to little sprinkles now and then.

Great Claire quote: "Mom, I wish I was just a mermaid!"

Hallie drew this picture of the allergist - as a zombie- while he asked her questions.

This is what Grant does when I try to work around him.

And yes, I was wearing paint pants at the moment.

I won't tell you if I really painted that day or not.

 

Hallie and I went to Denver for our dear friend Traci's baby shower.

She was a fun companion.

That night, and throughout the month, Hallie struggled with nausea from her allergy medication for the hives.  She handled it so gracefully even though she was miserable.  We are so happy she isn't grappling with that anymore.

This guy has had his own stuggles with teething off and on.

I heard a pediatrician say once that if adults dealt with the pain babies deal with teething, we would be drug addicts.  I hope not - but something to think about!  Poor babe.

Date night.

Boy do we love these and need these!

Same date night - outside Tucano's Brazilian Grill. 

I had a free meal because my birthday was that month. 

I love a great deal almost as much as I love my husband.

I kid.  I love him immeasurably more.

A Sunday hairstyle we tried for Hallie.

Clairey got really sick at church.

We had to leave early to take her home.

At the doctor to determine if she had strep.

It ended up being a random virus that gave her a fever, headache, and an afternoon of hives.

At least it only lasted 3 days.

Oh my heart.

Speaking of hearts . . .

Our annual Valentines heart wall.

Love that baby food face.

One of the highlights of January.

Gotta love a great period drama.

Love that frozen yogurt face.

Pretty baby.

 

Cell phone cameras- the quality may be less but the fact it follows you everywhere is priceless!

Valentine's Day 2013

This year we had a simple and sweet Valentine's day.

Our usual Valentine's tradition is crepes with Nutella and strawberries in the morning.

I'm going to be honest - now that I have a child in school - really hard to make it happen.

But we did still do some fun little things throughout the day.

 

Hallie had a school Valentine's Day party. 

The kids were crazy!

But they had so much fun.

The day before, Hallie decorated her special mail box for school.

Mom helped with hot glue, but it was all her vision!

 

Back to school . . .

 

Some of her favorites girls at school. 

 

The joy and surprise of Valentines.

One thing of note -

The boy that she says is always so mean to her gave her a Spider Man Valentine that he gave everyone else.  And then he gave her a special handmade construction paper heart just for her. 

Just what I suspected.

When I explained before he probably just likes her and doesn't know what to do,

she thought I was crazy.

 

After everyone was done with work, we hung out and did our easier to uphold traditions.

The kids each opened their special mail box to read a love note from Mom and Dad and have little treats.  Then Chris and I opened little tokens for each other and the family opened one group gift - the Disney game Headbandz.  We played it on the spot.  It was a blast.  Very good purchase.

Grant's Valentine smolder.

   

I can't help myself.

My crew.

The cutie boys.

 

Daddy reads Claire her special note. 

Don't you love her personal style that day?  Cracked me up.

 

A little garland I made of hilarious Harry Potter Valentine's I found online.

 

Proof I was there.

 

Claire was stoked she was the one who got to unwrap the family gift. 

After big sister's all day school rager, Claire deserved a little attention and fun.

And yes, that Target bag is proof we didn't really "wrap" it.

They didn't complain at all.

 

That night I fed the kids something easy.  After they were down, Chris and I dined on take-out Chinese with chopsticks (the only way we do it!).  Easy, romantic, perfect.

Our 1st Birthday Boy!

Our baby boy turned 1!

 

We celebrated with both his grandmas and one of his great-grandpas (my Grandpa Allen).  It made it feel so special.  In planning his party, we thought of Grant's favorite things.  In truth, his favorite party theme would probably be Mommy or Daddy.  We could have slapped our picture on the cake and Grant would have been thrilled.  But, as we shopped for presents he loved the little construction toys with lights and sounds.  So we went for a construction theme!

 

My mom and Hallie helped me make a construction paper road for our table (fitting that it was construction paper, eh?)

 

 

My mom also decorated his birthday chair.

I love when my mom is here to help decorate for the parties.

That keen medical mind is also freakishly artistic - not fair.

Thanks to the dollar section, the decorations cost about $5. 

You know that's how I roll.  I much rather spend the money on an actual gift.

My sweet boys. 

One of the great blessings of a hot husband is the good-looking genes he passes to the kids.

Cross your fingers he doesn't delete that line out of embarrassment when he reads this.

What? It's true, honey!

 

Grant analyzed the cake throughout the "happy birthday song."

Then I had to blow out the candle before he grabbed the flame -

 moments before he was eagerly reaching.

 

He was immediately stoked about the cookie "rocks" as topping.  I think the cake was just a cookie carrier to him.

Our party crew.  My grandpa can hardly contain his excitement.

We had French dip sandwiches and sweet potato fries.

Mom H. brought fruit with a French vanilla cream sauce that was so delicious we were sneaking extra spoonfuls, smearing it on cupcakes, and finding excuses to have it with breakfast the next day.  True story. 

I feel compelled to note that although Grant has a French ancestry, the French dip and French cream was unintentional.

I love themes - but I have my limits.

I'm glad he already realizes what a cool dad he has.

 

Best buds!

Chocolate love!

 

 

He finally realized there was a tasty cake in there!

My mom - no, not my sister - my mom! (Pray I have those genes.)

 

He didn't quite know what to think of presents in the moment.  But boy does he love them now!

Our party crew at the end of the night. 

 

What a sweet and fun party for our amazingly cool little boy.

We love you to the moon and back, Grant.

To say you complete us is an understatement.

Our hearts overflow with gratitude that we got you.

 

Planning a little boy party was a dream come true for this mommy.

 

Happy birthday, Grant!