December Dailies: #6

Guess what? Yesterday was busy. I didn't take any pictures. So we're skipping it altogether. Sorry not sorry. In your words: "It's Christmas, we can do whatever we want!".

Today. WHAT. A. DAY.
Busy. Needed a release. Did a double at spin class today. 7am. 5:30pm. SUCH RELIEF. It's what I imagine church feels like to religious people.  After my 2nd workout of the day I came home and together we cooked a delicious dinner of baked chicken, broccoli and wild rice. You helped me unload and then load dishwasher. You're FIVE yrs old! What the what? So helpful, so focused, all-in on everything you do. So cool.

I'm finding myself in conflict as I make an effort to spend less time on my phone and more time in the moment, so I didn't take any photos of you tonight. But I do have photos of some pretty cute stuff you've been writing lately, so I'll leave those here.

**Your Naughty & Nice List**

<translation: "Sawyer's naughty and nice list. Naughty: Mom, Sawyer, Grandma. Nice: Dad, Grandpa, Cam and Allie>

**Your Christmas Wish List **

<translation: "I want a plane for Christmas. A toy plane. A remote control plane with wheels. Dusty from Planes. I love you Santa. Sawyer">



**Another Christmas Wish List that we'll be sharing with Santa TOMORROW!!!**

<translation: "Sawyers Christmas List. 1. Remote Control Car. 2. Stuffed Collie (our elf on the shelf). 3. I want to be invisible. 4. I want a (didn't finish, but this was going to be a chores robot for mommy - no joke). >

December Dailies #4

What a magical day today was.
We put up our magical tree and decorated it and recounted all of the memories associated with each and every ornament.
Your daddy went INSANE and put up lights all over the house. All it took was one comment from a neighbor upon walking by: "We look forward to your lights every year!" they exclaimed. And it was fuel to his Christmas spirit fire.
I also got a wild hair and decided to slow cook mulled wine for the first time ever. Holy moly! Talk about holiday warmth goodness. Add in a fire in the fireplace next to a freshly lit tree and stocking hung with care? I could die a happy woman tomorrow.
This life.
This family.
This home.

Words can't describe my happiness right now.

December Dailies #3

So we have this friend.
He is one of the best humans on the Planet. His name is JUSTIN TIMM.
He has a farm. A Christmas tree farm that also happens to house llamas, emus, goats, BABY GOATS, chickens, roosters, and even A FREAKIN CAMEL.
We could not be more proud of our friend and are so grateful that visiting this farm has become one of our most favorite family traditions.
(sadly, Sawyer had a "shy" moment upon meeting "Santa", so we didn't get a shot of Justin dressed as Santa, but know that he was most certainly there!)

December Dailies: #2

We got this new christmas light fixture that's supposed to go outside on the side of the house, but for the LIFE OF US we can't get it out there. This thing is too much fun to have inside.

December Dailies. 2016. Day 1!!!!

Oh hi there! Remember me? Yeah me neither. Instead of pretending like I'm going to blog regularly and apologize for my 4 year blog sabbatical, I'm just going to leave these here.
This year was ROUGH guys. Lots of ups and downs. More downs than ups. But those ups are what saved us. We are one strong squad and this year proved I wouldn't want to mess with us.
So in honor of our strength, courage and bond, I bring you December dailies. One or more pics of you or us that demonstrates the good in our family and in the world.
Thank you baby boy for reminding me why I'm here. All day every day.

DAY #1 ::


your lovely and amazingly talented Grandma resurrected a childhood favorite of mine: the advent calendar. She made it from scratch and even put your photo in the middle. Special for you...ALWAYS. she is so thoughtful and generous. So today on Dec 1st, you got to open box #1. It was so fun, you were so excited and curious if what the box may contain. 3 unique $1 gold coins. It may as well have been Christmas.
Here's a few...

Summer is here!

Ok, the official day isn't until tomorrow, but when the temp exceeds 80, WE'RE GONNA CALL IT SUMMER!

You love it.
You love the sunshine, the flip flops, the watermelon, and SWIMMING in any body of water, you don't discriminate.
Also, any opportunity to get naked, you'll take it.

You're a DAREDEVIL in the water. Since the day you were born you've been a natural fish. Baths as an infant never bothered you. Getting you out of the bathtub has always been a negotiation. and in the pool, as soon as you could walk, you were jumping in doing cannonballs.  Your pool tricks are out of this world - you have a thousand different jumps, and names for these jumps. You can swim all the way across Aunt Lori's pool - it's insane! "Mom watch this!" A natural entertainer

summer lovin.

"backwards cannonball"

May!

of course, I wrote this a month ago while on a flight from JFK --> PDX, but here it is, posted a month later!

.....

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve updated your blog. 

I’m sorry buddy. 

The last few months have been ba-nah-nas! May itself has been insane - gone every weekend, from NY to LA to SF to PDX. It’s been tough as work got super crazy and I’ve had to shirk mommy responsibilities for a bit. Lots of business travel and late nights at the office make me feel horrible – I absolutely HATE being away from you. Hate it. Thankfully, your dad is the coolest and he Facetimes me when he can so I can see your sweet face. 

Good news is: I can see the light at the end of the tunnel – in just 2 more weeks, I get my life back and I cannot wait. (editors note: it was 4 weeks, not 2).

Flying back from a week in NYC this week and I just miss you so much, my tummy aches. I’m coming straight to your school and taking you out of there and we’re going to go to the park. 

You, buddy, are so fun right now. 3 might be my favorite age so far. 

You’re so thoughtful and expressive. 

You are such a social butterfly. Watching you play with the other kids on the playground is my favorite thing ever. You’re generous and caring, always looking out for other kids. You’re a natural born leader but in the kindest way. You LOVE girls, and chasing them around the playground. Girls LOVE you. When it’s time to leave the playground, you just can’t quite understand why some kids don’t reciprocate when you go to give them a love (hug) and a kiss. As many times as we try to tell you, you naturally just want to kiss and hug every.single.kid. So, who am I to stop you? (but really, the kissing thing is a little weird).

Last weekend on a super rainy Saturday I took you to the Fun Center and then we went to your very first MOVIE! In the theater!  You thought that was “so cool”. We saw Rio 2. We got popcorn and I let you pick out whatever candy you wanted. Amongst all the junk you had to choose from, you selected a big bag of fruit snacks. That’s my boy. In between trailers, you would shout “What’s next mama?”. Then when the movie started, every few minutes you just looked in awe at the screen and kept saying “woooowwwwwww”. It was the best day, just me and my guy. 

Another recent favorite thing? FROZEN!!!!! You and I could literally watch this movie a gazillion times. It never gets old. Saturday nights are our special night together and we love snuggling up in mommy’s bed and watching this adorable movie. You know all the songs, the characters names, the city names. It’s wild. And awesome. 

And then there was Mother’s Day. Also known as the best day ever. I love the idea that there is a day special for mommy’s. It’s about love and appreciation but to me, it’s about taking a day to reflect on how incredibly lucky I am to be your mommy. I thank God every day that He gave me you – it changed my life and it’s been the most rewarding experience. For Mother’s Day we went to brunch (my favorite meal of the day) at Hayden’s lakefront grill. From there your daddy took you home and went and picked up your Grandma for mani/pedis and mimosas, such a nice treat. We capped off our day with a special home-cooked meal: Grandpa’s fresh scallop alfredo – YUM! Super fun day. You got mommy a shirt with my favorite rapper: Notorious BIG. You are so thoughtful bud. Thanks for the best day in the world. 

Thank you for filling my heart with so much love. I am the luckiest girl in the world. 

Watching Frozen, per usual

sleeping angel

3D Movie at Grandpa's

Painting Tree Rounds just like his daddy

Ditched work to take this dude to the ZOO - best decision ever

Cheesin on Easter

The things he says...

"Chocolate milk is my NEEEEEW favorite!"

"Where's my kiss?" - when he wants a kiss or hug (which he calls a "love", sounds like WUV, like the rest of my family)

"I wish I had a __________" - the way he asks for toys/treats he knows he can't have, and then he gets them

"Can I way witchu, mama?" (can I lay with you) - I can never, ever say no. such a sucker.

Are you gonna be a good boy, Sawyer? "Yes, see, I'm a good boy!" (flashes those pearly whites)

and the things he mispronounces are pretty darn cute - you'll never catch me correcting him.
Hewicopter = Helicopter
bubbows = Bubbles
Scuba Driver = scuba diver
"Cheezus!" = "Jesus" (Mimicking mommy...oops, guess I'd better chill on that reaction)

Links to Love

I read a lot of really cheesy mommy blogs.

I also read a lot of interesting, poignant and inspiring articles across the web. 

I don't post them on Facebook for fear that people will find out I'm super sentimental. 

But I don't want to lose them. 

So, here's a list of my favorites lately:

"It’s in not worrying so much about the laundry and instead just letting that go and being thankful for a family to do laundry for."
http://findingjoy.net/why-being-mom-is-enough/

"Let her eat all of the Halloween candy in one sitting. When she's puking Kit-Kats, ask her if she wants another one."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susannah-lewis/three-is-the-new-two_b_4505898.html

"4. Don’t pull strings. Some kids get a rude awakening when they get a job and realize that the rules actually do apply to them. They have to come on time and do what the boss wants. And, (gasp!) part of the job they don’t even like. If you don’t like your child’s teacher, science partner, position on the soccer field or placement of the bus stop, avoid the temptation to make a stink or pull strings until he gets his preference. You are robbing your child of the chance to make the best of a difficult situation. Dealing with less-than-ideal circumstance is something she will have to do most of her adult life. If children never learn to handle it, you’re setting them up for failure."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865590425/How-and-why-to-be-the-meanest-mom-in-the-world.html?pg=all

December Dailies: Day 31!!

I took so few photos on NYE this year - so unlike me!
We went to Uncle Jasons house to party down with all of your cousins and friends. Pretty awesome time. We are so thankful for them.
Here's you, operating your new remote control helicopter like a boss. The box said it is for ages 13+. Clearly they haven't met you.

 

December Dailies: Day 30

Tonight your mama got inspired to make a new lasagna recipe and we had an impromptu dinner party. Your favorite cousins Jackson and Maverick came over with uncle higgy, and uncle Dustin and aunt Kati came by too! It reminded me how much I love a house full of laughter and joy. You are surrounded by so much love and support - I am thankful for this close family of friends we have here. They adore you, and the feeling is mutual. Here they are reading your bedtime story (favorites are Little Blue Truck and Goodnight Construction Site). 

December Dailies: Day 29

Today mommy got to go to brunch with Aunt Lori for her bday. It was Deeeelish!! I came home to find that daddy setup the construction work bench you got for Xmas and BOY are you a fan. You keep wanting to build tables and chairs, and drill and hammer things. It's pretty adorbs. 

Also these two cuddling in front of the fire. Too much!

December Dailies: Day 28

Today we got your second ever haircut. Second-ever is a testament to how much we hate to see you unhappy or uncomfortable. You did awesome -

AND the original kids cut salon we took you to had closed, so we were forced to try a new place AND it just so happened that the same girl who first cut your hair now works at this new place. Ciara is rad and a true kids cut progressional. You didn't cry once until she wanted to style your hair in a dinosaur spike, but I can't blame ya there. And then you got to ride on a horse. Pretty perfect little Saturday. 

December Dailies: Day 27

While the Christmas Cabin was so much fun, I've got to admit, it's sure nice to be back home in our own house. We're slowly packing up Xmas for storage until next year, cleaning and of course playing with our new Xmas presents!!! 

We got daddy a new cold-air-intake for his truck and it was pretty dang cute watching you two put it together today. 

We also pulled out a new fun treasure hunt game that I picked up at the last minute, and thankfully you loved it!! You're quite the card shark fella, it was pretty cute. You love crawling on the floor and playing games, and I don't mind it either. 

December Dailies: Day 26

Cuddling with Sawyer last night, in absolute heaven, no clue what drove me to be covered in hives, but it was not fun. Not fun at all. Thankfully my babe was extra cuddly. Thanks bud.