365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 21

While we were in Wichita, I got to go to my sister's 20 week ultrasound.  This was definitely one of the best parts of my week... I never get to be there in person for fun pregnancy moments for her (and this is her fifth little one), so getting to celebrate sweet baby #5... a girl, was just awesome (also, isn't my sister just beautiful?)

 

Ah... you can see the cold setting in here.  Drippy eyes, nose, and mouth (because throwing teething in with the cold made things extra fun)!  Luckily, Colette was pretty cheerful throughout it all (unless I tried to leave her with someone else).  However, I'm pretty sure this is the day that Anni told me she was ready to go home and didn't think she could make it (poor girl... there were still three days left!)

I had to miss my sweet niece's first Communion, as it was only two weeks before we were set to fly out, but we slipped out one of the mornings I stayed at their house and took a few photos of her in her dress and veil.  Isn't she beautiful?  My sister and I both wore this same dress and veil when we received our first Communions, so there's some extra special hand-me-down love to this.

Annnnnd, then it was wedding day!  My youngest brother, who just happens to be an incredible, hard-working, and loving guy married the sweetest young lady in a beautiful Catholic Mass.  I was blessed to get to photograph it, and I can only hope that I captured some of the beauty of the day.   

 

Annnd... yep, there's a photo missing here.  I know I took a couple random iphone shots, but nothing I have access to at the moment, so, just imagine Sunday as a day of saying good-bye to everyone and flying back home in complete exhaustion!

Monday was definitely a recovery day.  Daniel mowed our forest of a backyard, we took a trip to the grocery store, and everyone tried to fit in as much sleep as possible (don't be jealous, but I definitely slept in until nearly lunchtime!)

And, today.  Today I am coming to grips with the fact that we have two more trips in quick succession coming up, so I better get that laundry washed and folded so I can pack up again soon!  In the meantime, Colette snuck into the downstairs bathroom and discovered that we hadn't moved the toilet paper to a higher spot in there (as we have in our much more used upstairs bathroom) and proceeded to pull every inch of it off and shred it.  I couldn't even get mad because she was so darn pleased with herself.  

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 20

This week gets a little eclectic as we spent much of the week in Wichita, and two of those days, I was driving to and from a wedding in Kansas City.  

Colette was thrilled to get to start using a fork... her food was definitely savored that day!

Hugs from the best buddies after our last day of school until fall!

The day we flew into Wichita, I was so very excited for some non-recycled air, so we spent the afternoon watching my dad garden.  (He takes gardening to a whole new level!)

 The grin, the twin babies (dolls that I grew up with!), the 70's quilt that I totally stole (aka borrowed with permission)... a definite new favorite photo!

Here's where things get a little silly.  I was a good bridesmaid and didn't bring my "big girl" camera, so any photos I took were not on my camera... meaning, all I've got for now is a silly green screen photo booth shot of Lettie and I at the reception.  Hey, this is life.

Annnd, last one of the week is a "work" one.  It's a pretty one, so I'm pretty sure you won't complain.  My Colette had a hard time when I was away on the couple of shoots I did while in Wichita... luckily they weren't too long, and she quickly recovered after the fact.  

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 19

The "I refused my afternoon nap and so passed out from exhaustion much later than I should and therefore won't sleep tonight" nap.  It's hard being one!

Helping with dinner preparation... by eating my ingredients!  That is definitely the girls' favorite part of helping (they will even munch on raw onions... weird, but adorable.)

 

This little monkey!  Climbing Anni's bed is one of her favorites this week... if only she's stick to pretending to sleep on it (also adorable, much less dangerous).  

The "I'm a little overwhelmed, but really, really, really excited by the attention" face.

Mother's Day... that's right, lots of heavy, wet snow.  I had my first go at having to brush off some bushes and trees (though Daniel did most of the work the next morning on our poor apple trees).  It's funny how surprised everyone is by it, though... I feel like this happens every year in CO.  In fact, the year Anni was born, I remember driving through snow, back to the hospital to visit her in the NICU the night after I was discharged. 

This, my friends, is how Anni makes lunch all by herself.  I'm 110% for it... make that tortilla pizza, baby!  

V Week

Whew!  I have been super slacking on these letter of the week posts.  Well, we've also been lagging a bit in school, so, I guess it makes sense.  This is from a few weeks ago, so unfortunately, my memory is lacking a bit (I feel like we did another craft, but no photos, so, no blogging if it did happen)!  Anyway, we got a few books from the library, and probably read the Vera books 10 times a day, no exaggeration.  She just adored them, and asked the same questions on each page, each time.  

 

Then, we made some Vatican flags!  This was a great chance to talk about the Vatican and the Pope.  Always a plus!  I (attempted) to draw the basic design on it for her, and she colored it in and glued it to a popsicle stick for easy waving.  Oi-la!

Four.

When Anni woke up the day of her birthday (Friday), we had her first bike, waiting for her.  She had known it was coming after she accidentally stumbled upon it's box a few days previous in our closet.  From that day, she whispered in conspiratorial tones to anyone that would listen that, "We aren't supposed to see our presents before our birthday, buuuuut I saw a bike."  Despite that, her face lit up like the sunrise when she saw it leaning against the couch (with a helmet, which I almost forgot until she mentioned earlier in the week that you can't ride a bike without a helmet... which, of course you can't, so good thing she reminded me!) 

The helmet was immediately strapped on, and the rest of the morning was spent slowly walking the bike through the house, occasionally lifting her feet and practicing her balance.

Colette thought she should be able to hitch a ride on the back wheel.

Once I managed to peel her away from the bike and get dressed, we picked Daddy up from work for a lunch/ice cream/bookstore date.  

After dropping Daddy back to finish off his work day (always kind of sad to do that... we just want to keep him), Anni washed up some dishes (her very excited idea) to get ready to make some cookies.

Then we had some homemade pepper-oni (said just like that) pizza with a candelit cookie for our birthday girl to blow out.

The rest of us thought it was pretty exciting... Colette apparently didn't agree:

Whew!  Okay, onto party day.  We feverishly shopped, baked, and cleaned the morning of the party, all while watching the sky warily as it randomly spit rain at us.

Luckily, it held off just long enough for us to drag the table outside, and have about an hour of her sweet little tea-party on the lawn.

Everyone picked out a teacup (that they also got to take home, so I told them to pick carefully), and noshed on some snacks for a little while.  We tried to keep things rolling, because we had several friends who needed to leave a little early.  So, out came the cake (chocolate, with chocolate frosting, as she had very clearly informed she wanted for the last several months).

 

It was quickly devoured (reminder to self: make more next time) and enjoyed by all.

Then there were bubbles and chalk to enjoy until the rain rushed us inside for presents.

Such a happy celebration for a very sweet four-year-old!

365 Days of Love Notes: Take One

I am linking up with Story of a Rose this week for her first-ever "Love Notes" Link-up.  Her format is to share a way God wrote a little love note into your life for each day of the previous week.  Since it's the first week, I don't necessarily have one for each day, nor are they very organized, but I'm going to share a few sweet moments from my week (and hopefully she'll forgive the randomness!)

The lilac is blooming in our backyard.  There are so many love notes from God wrapped into this one little fact.  We have a backyard. A beautiful, big, backyard with a lilac bush, heavy with blossoms, where my babies can run and play.  Plus, telling them to see how good their flowers smelled brought about a photo that will probably make me giggle a little always (mainly little Lettie choosing a leaf to sniff).

My hubby's joy at a mountain view as we drove him back to work after Anni's birthday lunch this week.  I just love how much he loves where he works and lives.

The girls and I took a little trip to check out the Whole Foods by our house this week.  This brought about two moments that lifted my heart.  The first was that they have little shopping carts, just Anni-sized.  She took so much pride in steering that cart herself.  Then, as we were leaving, this sweet older woman grinned at me carrying the bags and Colette, with Anni hanging onto a bag and offered some help.  I ended up not needing any, but she was such a darling, and, with such great joy, told us her first grandson had been born just a week before.  What a blessing to have received such a joyous reaction to my babies!  Yay, LIFE!

This face, right here, when Anni's friends sang her Happy Birthday.  I can't wait to share more about our celebrating... it was all such a joy!

And, to end, my favorite Mother's Day gift!  We are slowly getting this corner up to snuff (those pieces of broken lattice need to be moved, and we need to trim the tree by it), but we decided it was time that our little backyard grotto had a Mary statue, so she was put in her new home this past week!  It's such a beautiful and constant reminder of our faith. 

Find more Love Notes at Story of a Rose. 

Happy Birthday to our Antonia!

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 18

 Every night, when Anni is carried to bed (usually by Daddy), she has specific "ways" she likes to be carried.  This is the sleepy way, and it's my favorite.

When I run to grab the mail, or out to the backyard to move a hose or grab something we left on the table, I often see this sweet little face, nose pressed against the window, shouting, "MOM. Mama?  Mooo-ooom." and usually giggling at herself.  Let me never say I am not wanted!

Oh, and yes, we have a climber.  On anything, especially if it leads to something else (bathroom counter, sister's bed, yep, all of that).  It means doors to every other room have to be closed, but, secretly, I love catching her at it (let's just hope there aren't too many tumbles!)

My little gardeners, so eager to help!  Hopefully, they won't be too disappointed when they realize Mommy and Daddy have no clue as to what they're doing, and, mostly likely, everything's going to die before it produces... sorry, my loves!  We'll learn... hopefully!

We've been working on our grotto, and Anni wanted to "play Mary" while we're waiting for our statue.  Anytime, sweet one, anytime.

This is my life, friends.  I am so very blessed.