7.19.15

We started this week off by celebrating as a family S's "Forever Day". It is kind of crazy thinking that it has already been two years. We decided to get her 2 gifts that let her use her imagination. She loves blocks! She was thrilled when she saw this giant box to create with. We have played with them everyday!

She also really loves music, so we got her a set of musical instruments. She was really excited to open them and start playing. I may go a bit crazy hearing all the music, but I love this creative outlet that she has. She has a great imagination and loves to create things herself.

We went out a few days to go on a walk or ride a bike. She is becoming really good on this balance bike. She can go pretty good distances without having to touch the ground. One morning she rode close to a 3/4 mile on her own. 

We met  up with grandma, some aunts, and cousins to hit the zoo Wednesday morning. I realized on our way out that I hadn't gotten a picture of her to this point so we stopped for a quick photo op. She loved all of the animals and told dad all about them when he got home that night. 

This picture is thanks to Aunt Ashley. That was seriously the biggest turtle I've ever seen.

These two were SO kind to her. She loves playing with the big kids. J & D both took her hands and were her buddies as the adults followed behind. They are a lot of fun!

Our cousins got here late Friday evening. They'll be here for a week. Nana and Papa always do a super fun Halloween party. Since these guys live so far away, they are never here for it. Nana decided it would be fun to do a Halloween party in July to include these cuties. One thing that has somewhat become a tradition is minute to win it games. I loved seeing S participate in things!

cookie from forehead to mouth

everyone enjoying the festivities

one of her favorite "bigger" cousins. They were buddies the whole time we were there.

ding dong unicorn on dad

costumes all compliments of the teenagers picking them out earlier that day at a local clothing exchange.

buddies

kids in costumes

7.12.15

We ended up going to spend some time with my parents. It was fun to have just S/grandparent time. She loved it! Grandparents are so fun to have so close by! Jenny's mom is a school teacher and has the summers off so we spend as much time as we can with her! Grandpa even came home from work early :)

We stopped in to visit my sister and her kids. It was her daughter's birthday, and S had a good time joining in on all the fun! My sister made cupcakes in ice cream cones. Scarlett was in heaven. Two of her favorite things in one treat :) 

We spent one day at a local beach with my sister and her kids. She is employed full time, but because of her son's doctors appointment and preschool graduation she took the day off. S loves being with her cousins, and playing with them in whatever way she can! The water is one of her favorite things, and the weather was perfect at the beach! We were there for nearly 3 hours. I'm not a huge fan of the hot, hot summer days but she has shown me a new love for it by being able to see it through her eyes. 

We went on a walk through local gardens to go see an outdoor movie on Friday. We went with my sister and her kids (plus one friend). S loved pointing things out to me along the way. She loves the outdoors!

waiting for it to get dark

group pic before the show started.

We decided last year that we would celebrate S's forever day with her annually. The first year finalizing the adopting and having her sealed to us was the celebration! Her actual "Forever Day" is tomorrow and we will do something together as our little family, but wanted to do something fun with all of here cousins to celebrate to. Not everyone could make it, but those who did had a lot of fun. Brett spent a good chunk of time designing and making some fun water toys for her.

Uncle Ben is always a good sport to join in the fun!

loving the water!

water gun fight

After all the water fun was over we had a barbecue with everyone who came. It is so nice to have family so close!

enjoying her Popsicle with grandpa

We feel so blessed daily to have this sweet kid in our home. Truly. She is such a fun kid with a great personality. She makes life around here so great. I couldn't imagine life without her!

7.5.15

A couple of weeks ago I started taking pictures on Sunday of our family. We didn't do it in our Sunday clothes today, but its still a fun family picture. I'm looking forward to seeing all of these compiled at the end of the year. 

This has been quite the week. S woke up before 6:00 Monday morning. I had planned to take her to Blackhawk Reservoir in Herriman, but was rethinking that when she was up so early. By 8:30 we were out the door headed for the reservoir since she was still really happy. It was SO hot. By 10:30 it was nearly 90 degrees. I sat in the sun sweating all to allow my kiddo to have fun :) It was totally worth it...but next time I'll definitely wear my suit too :) The beach here is pretty perfect, nice soft sand, big enough for lots of people, warm water. What a fun day!

Our niece had a birthday on Monday and we all went over to have dinner and hang out together. S just loves baby. This is her newest baby cousin. She is in heaven being able to hold him and talk to him. She continued to talk to us during the week about "Baby Porter". 

Since the 4th was on a Saturday this year Brett was able to get paid work off on the 3rd. Provo has a great hot air balloon festival July 2-4th every year. We usually go the morning of the 4th, but opted to go the 3rd this year since we could still go as a family. It was so nice, and so much less crowded. I love how much she loved it. There were so many fantastic balloons. I hope we choose to have this family tradition for many years to come!

We chose to stop at Macey's after the balloon launch for donuts. We let S have whatever one she chose...I actively decided to not be the uptight mom. I didn't try to convince her to have a different one despite her having on a white shirt and choosing a donut with dyed red frosting. She loved it and ate it most of the way home. 

The morning of the 4th S wasn't feeling stellar. She went back and forth between wanting me or Brett. We looked at her and saw a couple of blister like things on her hands. Hand Foot Mouth and been going around the kids in our area, and S conked out in less than 2 minutes of me holding her, she crashed on me. I love those moments when I can just snuggle this precious baby of mine. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to have this run its course. It is a miserable illness for anyone to have to struggle through. Here's to a quick mend! 

Race Against Cancer

My sister sent a text out to all our family in February to see if they were interested in racing in the American Fork Half Marathon. I had some medical things going on and knew that I couldn't do the Half.As the time grew closer and I was better I contemplated the 5K they were doing as well. I decided to start training for it. If I'm being totally honest, I don't love running. I'm not fast at all. It's not my favorite thing. BUT, it was all for a worthy cause.

The American Fork Half Marathon and 5K donates all money to cancer patients for treatments. Last year I lost both of my grandfathers to cancer in a 10 week period of time. It was heartbreaking. One of those grandfathers shared a birthday with me...making things very real this week. It's the first time I haven't been able to call and wish him a happy birthday, share a cake, or blow out candles together. That man has always held a special place in my heart. 

I have run a fair amount of 5Ks, but this by far was the hardest. Since all monies went to benefit cancer patients both grandfathers as well as family members who are survivors were on my mind. I hear a small child running the race say, "Mom, is this really going to help grandpa?" I cried while I ran. There were signs in memory of cancer patients or by cancer survivors all along the way. I miss them so much, and am so grateful that this was one small thing I could do to help me remember.

our little fam post race

Ivan, couldn't run this year because of a recent injury

Joshua did the kids 1 mile fun run

This sign tugged at my heart...and made me cry again.

little buddies

mom, great supporter :)

me and cami pre-race

runner girl nails Cami did for me the night before

6.28.15

She loves being a super hero. She has asked that dad is one with her as well. She loves running around and pretending to be anything as long as it involves a cape and dad wears one as well. 

For Father's Day I wasn't totally on top of it with dessert, so we had a pleasant surprise. I had bought strawberries earlier in the week, and googled how to make pound cake. It was a perfect dessert. We were surprised at how well it turned out :)

We got her this bike almost a year ago. We finally took it outside on the walking path. She did amazing and is already starting to balance on it. If you can't tell from the picture, she LOVES it!

A friend invited us to swim the morning of my birthday. They live in the condos across the street and have a pool there. We were also watching some neighbor kids and thought that sounded like a great way to entertain them for a few hours. I am so glad we did :) It was cool, Scarlett laughed and laughed. I'll have to take her more often!

For the past several years my mom has taken me out for lunch and shopping on my birthday. I had a sister in town so it became more of a family event. S was so excited to see M again!

best buds

lunch with mom

Last year I decided that I wanted snow cones for my birthday instead of cake. I opted for the same thing again this year. We may have a new family tradition :) S loved them and talked about them in the car all the way there. I got a blueberry banana combo and Brett did orange pineapple with cream. We had a great time together as a family! I truly feel blessed!

Since my sister is in town and we don't see her super often we have done a lot of things together. Wednesday my mom put together a "Grandma Day" at the zoo. I was a bit leery because it has been so hot around here, but there was a nice breeze much of the time, and enough shade here and there that we survived. It was fun to have so many of the kids together. I kept S awake all the way home so that she would nap. She ended up taking an almost 3 hour nap. I had to wake her up a little after 5. Poor kiddo. She was worn out!

all the cousins who could make it

Polar bears usually aren't very active when we are at the zoo, but that day was definitely the exception. He was up, walking around, and swimming. That night at dinner S told Brett all about it. She even acted it out for him :) 

all the girl cousins

Aunt Heather is so fun to play in the water with the kids!

All of our cute kiddos measuring up to the apes

 She has loved this bike so much. It has been nearly a daily occurrence this week. It makes me happy that she loves it so much. It could be a great option for being healthy in our family :)

I got a call from my mom Wednesday night that my former roommate from before I married Brett had had surgery and it hadn't gone well. She has cancer, and they had gone in to remove it. She was in recovery when she started bleeding internally and had to be rushed back in. I was grateful that my mom let me know, and that I could take the time to go see her. I found it funny that even though there are 13 floors, there is no 13 in the elevator. Apparently some people really are superstitious. 

We took a chance and stopped by the Children's museum....mainly it was to meet up with my sister's babysitter who was there. I needed to get her race packets to her. S started saying, "Seum. I go! Mom, I go a seum." I couldn't just drop them off and leave at that point, but we also didn't stay more than 30 minutes. There were just WAY too many people!

Top: dress ups videoed in front of a green screen Left:doing the laundry. She's big enough to spin it all the way around now Right: our blurry selfie :)

Several family members chose to participate in the American Fork 5K and Half Marathon. Jessica did amazing, finishing the race in 1 hr 50 minutes. I'm so proud of her. There were lots of feelings involved with this race that I really feel deserve their own post. I'll try to make that happen soon :)

those who raced

The whole fam

 With her love of water we had to play in it :) We opted to get her pool out from last year. She had tons of fun getting everyone wet. The water is way colder than I would've preferred, but she sat it in and just had a grand time. I love seeing the excitement she has in the water. It seriously makes me enjoy it more :)

We decided to try out a new little place for dinner Saturday. They had great reviews on google and we figured it was worth a shot. We went for sandwiches and burgers and ended up being pleasantly surprised that they had Dole whips too. We will definitely be going back. It was all super delicious!