long, long walk

One sunday after noon Paisley and i took an extremely long walk that lasted about 4 or so miles and took a little over an hour to complete but it was so nice and not too hot or cold.

playing with her feet which can be found doing quite often (she loves her feet...just an under statement)

snacking and smiling like always

look at my red face...i did get quite hot but it was still so enjoyable!

aw...the memories we make with our kids.  i love spending quality time with my girls from playing imaginary, to drawing, to painting, to reading, to being out doors, to snuggles, to laughs, to bath time, to prayers, to watching a movie, to whatever it may be...i am trying my hardest to maximize my time with them both while they are still so little and i hope and pray that we will always be so close because as much as they need me i need them just as much if not more!  they are my world my everything

Memorial day 2013

So for us this holiday was quite low key...but we did go on our first swim for the season and for sure this is where you will find us this summer and if we aren't here then we are at either at a park or splashing in the water table or drawing pics with chalk or bubble blowing or riding bikes or on a hike/walk or even seven peaks or playing barbies/babies/petshops on those hot days.  This summer is going to be AMAZING and I can't wait to get it started!

she loved the water and is swimming so good with just the arm floaties.  I am sure by the middle of summer she won't need anything and I am so proud of her for her determination!

of course she has to sunbathe too...getting her vitamin D.  she has such beautiful skin and I hope it stays with her forever!  she can thank her mama for that!

my lil' fish or mermaid...whichever you prefer

just relaxing in her swimsuit eatin' snacks.  she didn't actually get in the water this time.  I do have a nice floatie for her I just thought the water was a little cold.  maybe next time

she spent most of her time in the deep end having a grand ole time.  even played with a new friend.  this girl is such a social butterfly!

wanted to bring baby in for a swim

these girls are BFF...and if I have anything to do with it they will always be forever!

after our swim we went home to make a yummy summer type dinner for this lovely holiday:

mini weenies and baked beans, cheese slices and carrots and baby corn and blue berries and strawberries, and potato salad, along with home made soda...for the most part pretty well balanced

she wanted me to take a pic of her with the food...she was so excited to eat...secretly so was I because it all smelt so good

trying some new food which most of it ended up on the floor except for the beans which was a black beans mix instead of regular baked beans...quite yummy

and this is the beginning of a new tradition for us which leads to the creation of this:

when i was in college i took this one class that talked all about the family and what not and the importance of and one of the topics was traditions.  so i thought it would be cool to use the first hand full of pages and label it each holiday and then after that make it a small journal for the girls and write a small memory from the different holidays each year and as a memory they can go back and read it as they get older.

laundry helpers

isn't doing laundry always so much more fun when you have not one...but TWO cute, adorable, loving, fun helpers?!

for me it is...especially the pushing them around their room in the basket and making it go fast and then slow?!  OMG (goodnes) such an amazing workout...you should try it some time.

As Adey is now almost 4, wow super crazy for me to say that I almost have a 4 year old where has time gone, but anyway it is one of her chores to put her own clothes away which is quite helpful.  now I just need Paisley to learn...surprisingly I know it isn't too far away and that makes me sad.  But I guess you gotta teach them young 

my beautiful girls

Adey is working so hard at counting higher and higher.  she can recognize so many numbers and write a few words and knows all her letters.  I want her to be ready for kindergarten and more.  She is a very smart and bright girl and i want her to use it not let it go to waste!  Our next step is to work on those harder shapes and how to sound out letters.  We try to do "homework" every day which i would say is definitely making a difference.  thanks to this leap frog game on my fridge it is helping i would say.  I just can't believe in less then 2 months this pretty little 9.6 lb baby girl is gonna be 4 and getting her kindergarten shots.  She is just so smart, talented, beautiful, kind hearted, social butterfly and I have no doubt she will succeed if she keeps trying like she does now:

One of my friends was giving some things away and I snagged this super cute princess rocking horse for Paisley.  I often find her pulling it towards her talking to it or sucking on the fur or giving it kisses.  I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

p.s. i too can't believe this lil chunker that started out as 5.3 lbs and almost 7 weeks early is now 22 lbs and gonna be the big 1 next month...she is just amazing and a perfect addition to my family.  

March of Dimes 2

This year with Paisley not being one, obviously was the first of many years to walk in the March of Dimes which is an amazing program to help premature babes.  My team raised a little over $120...next year my goal is $200 (they offer free t shirts too if you can make this much).  I intend to do this walk EVERY year for those who would like to join me in the walk or donate to worthwhile cause.

This year it was quite rainy and cold...but we still walked in it.  I mean come on it was only 1.5 miles and so worth it.  A memory that won't be forgotten!  Thank you to those that helped support our PRECIOUS PAISLEY...she is a fighter and lived and baked little longer (from original 26 weeks to 33 weeks and 4 days) to be the healthy lil' girl she is today!  I am so blessed for this lil' miracle.  I met some heart touching stories and read shirts...it broke my heart to see those that had wings because I know that little one didn't make it.  But there were miraculous stories like one who was born 15 weeks early weighing 15.5 ounces and is going strong and alive today.  Or this other story about a set of twins where one of the sacks broke inside the mom and that one died instantly but its sister was born right away via emergency c section at 24 weeks weighing 1.2 lbs and is almost 3 years old and too is a fighter.  Miracles to do happen...every day...and with our help through donation, prayers, faith...their can be a cure to helping some of the premature babies or those born with birth defects.  

Before the walk...good looking bunch!

on the walk...we were close to the end...but we did it

this was the 75th year for march of dimes and Paisley was trying to eat her cupcake

Nana with Paisley

the team for the year May 2013...next year we should wear purple since that is the March of dimes color (I think pink stand for cancer...oh well my bad)

Adey got her face painted for free but we gave a donation for it...ignore my crazy looking face in the back round...

shout out to my vitamix

so i found this slushy recipe on pinterest but honestly it didn't turn out too good so i am not gonna post the recipe (but I have found other recipes me and the girls are gonna try out this summer)...but I just wanted to show how much I LOVE my vitamix and how amazing it crushes my ice:

isn't it pretty...ok shout out over

smiles, gymnastics, laughs, LOVE my life

First of all...i am so beyond proud of my little gymnast.  Right now she attends a local gymnastics gym two days a week for 45 minute sessions and she just LOVES it.  She has come so far and is quite talented.  I just hope she sticks to it and continues to enjoy it and works hard:

she can also do cartwheels, tuck jumps, splits, straddle jump/toe touch, forward rolls and is working on her head stands, backwards roll, perfecting her cart wheel, and swinging on the bars along with doing back walk over with the wheel thing.  I just love watching her develop this talent she has!  Yes...I am at the mom that tries to attend every Tuesday/Thursday to watch and quietly cheer her on to success.

On the other hand...her is what my other little princess is up to:

whenever i pull out the camera and try to take pictures of Paisley...she squints up her eyes half the time and smiles a big, cute cheesy smile

BOTH THESE GIRLS JUST MELT MY HEART AND I AM BEYOND BLESSED EACH AND EVERY DAY I GET TO SPEND ALL DAY WITH THEM WATCHING THEM LEARN AND GROW AND DEVELOP INTO THESE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS THAT THEY ARE!!

Paisley's baby blessing...

I know this is past due but I just recently was given the pictures from when my beautiful little girl FINALLY received her baby blessing which was said by her Papa Fullmer.  It was an amazing blessing and of course i shed a few tears.  Her Papa, Great Uncle Lonni, Uncle Alan, Uncle Evan, and her uncle Alan's dad and her Papa's bishop all administered it to her.  I am beyond blessed to have had my mom come for this special occassion along with my friend Jessica, and all of her aunts, cousins, and Nana.  There were some missed which we wished could have been there but I do understand.  Her dress was gorgeous bought by her Nana (a tradition she does which is she buys all her grandchildren their blessing outfits).  I want to thank everyone that was a part from the food to the blessing to the support...you are all WONDERFUL!  Her are a few pictures from afterwards:

cousins and best friends!

almost all the men from her blessing

thanks for coming and supporting me Jess...you are one friendship i truly treasure!

her Nana and Papa

her Nonni...wish Grampy was here

one sweet slice...

so one sunny, afternoon we stopped by this cute little gourmet cupcake/sweets store in South Jordan, Utah off of Redwood Road called One Sweet Slice

they made different kinds of cupcakes they looked beautiful.  They were a little pricey ($2.50 per a cupcake) and I honestly thought they tasted just OK...not sure if we will go back but it was quite the fun experience when we got home since we all got our own cupcake (even Paisley)

I seriously can't wait until her first birthday because Adey was to "prissy" to dive into her cake so I had to help her and even then she wasn't too happy...from this experience with Paisley it will be quite fun and we will need to make sure we have that camera ready along with a nice bath afterwards!

devoured the frosting...Adey's favorite part

she wanted to hide from the camera during this one

the girls cupcake was called the "Princess cupcake" and mine was called the "Grasshopper cupcake" and of course Adey thought I was gonna eat grasshoppers but I had to explain to her it was just a mint and chip flavored...too bad I didnt' get before pics of what they looked like.  if I do go back I will have to remember that