365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 22

 A little watering in our jammies as we saw Daddy off one morning.  

 

 My Anni loves to love on our Mary statue, but Colette?  Colette is definitely St. Francis' buddy.  There are hugs, kisses, and lots of splashing when I fill up his little shell with water.

This was the day Colette learned, "mmmmmmMMMMmmm" (think in terms of "Vroom!").  The big basket of cars at Nonna and Papa's is always a huge hit with my girls. 

Next was another big wedding day!  It was a crazy day!  Daniel was a groomsman (the groom is one of his best friends), I was photographing, Daniel's dad was receiving the vows (he is a deacon), annnnd Nonna was herding my little lambs.  Thankfully, God heard my desperate prayers that Colette would handle unavailable Mommy and Daddy time alright, and she really did!  Woo!  Anni danced until the night was over, and Colette ended up snoozing on Papa's chest.  It was a beautiful, happy night.

We got one recovery day after our four days in Greeley... just enough time to frantically throw together everything we needed (while missing several things of course) for a four day road trip to the panhandle of Nebraska.

Seeing Anni with "her Charlie" definitely made the drive with a vomiting Colette worth it (not sick, well not with a stomach bug, just mad, snotty, and choking on the snot anytime she had a snack in the car).  Charlie is like a big brother (and is her "Godbrother") to my girl, and she adores him to no end.

 At Mount Rushmore, Anni counted every single step we walked up... and, as you can see, there were lots of them!  We had to steer her clear  of other people several times, but there were lots of grins, especially when she got in the habit of skipping eight every time. 

Still here!

Well, I guess I should say:

Back!

After a week in Kansas for my brother's wedding, a few days at home, four days in Greeley for one of Daniel's best friend's wedding, back home for less than 24 hours to clean and pack, four days in Nebraska's panhandle for a family trip, we are officially back home (for a week), with house guests for the next couple of days.  Whewwww. 

When I plan months like this, I always think it'll be no big deal... and then I've actually got to plow through.  For the most part, it has been a blast with some great memories.  This definitely doesn't include the fact that Colette's runny nose made her easily throw up anything she ate in the car, resulting in three or four vomits during the trip (nope, I didn't learn... no stomach bug, and, seriously, a handful of cheerios or the like is the easiest way to distract a baby who hates to travel... unless she throws them up, of course). 

So, yeah, there have been, and will probably will continue to be, some small panic attacks until the next two trips/weddings (including one that requires 13.5 hours of driving to get there) are over.  But, it will all be lovely memories in a few months, right?  Right?!  No, really, it's good stuff.  I'm glad we're doing it... I think.

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!