A Touch Of Tyrell

Everett was in running club last year and really enjoyed it. He did it again this year but the season was like three times as long... so he was a little burnt out by the end.  But there was a practice race about a month ago and then the final race today. He did so good! Of course I cheered for him and he got mad at me and told me I couldn't call him "burrito" (one of his nicknames) in public.  I was a little heartbroken. Okay, a lot heartbroken! But we went to Dairy Queen after and that made everything better :)

Roxy has been so cute and funny for a while now.  (BUT DON'T TAKE HER SHOPPING!!!! SHE IS THE WORST IN A STORE!) She's always loved dolls and lately she's been asking to watch Barbie on Netflix. She also plays with these little people/figurines and makes up conversations for them. It's the absolute best! Sometimes she'll play with her people and her dollhouse alone for 20-30 minutes. I adore her! Babies and the baby stages have always been really hard for me. I remember my dad commenting to me once (because he was always so honest with his opinions!) that it seemed like I didn't really like Roxy in my blog posts.  I told him of course I liked her and loved her but babies are just hard for me. This stage is so much more fun for me! But I've always loved her tons. And I still love her tons even when she turns into a monster in a store 😉

I think alllllllll the miracles happened just right for us to be able to see mountains out of almost every window in our house. The views we have from our bedroom windows are the best! This morning most of the snow had melted off the Superstitions... a reminder to enjoy things in their moment :) Breckie had a birthday party to go to on Saturday. It was for one of her friends from our old neighborhood. After I dropped her off I walked back into the fields I used to run in and saw how green and beautiful they were and the snowy mountains in the distance were the icing on the cake.  Of course they look a billion times more beautiful in real life #cameraphone but you get the idea. I enjoyed the snowy mountain view while it lasted!

*The pictures will make sense by the end of this long story :) 18 months ago, when we were living in a rental waiting for our house to be finished, I was really struggling for a creative outlet. I really find a lot of joy in making a home. Painting, decorating, organizing, rearranging, cleaning etc. I like staying busy and that is one of my favorite ways to occupy my 'spare' time.  I've always enjoyed physical activity and being outdoors. It was Winter for several of the months we lived in the little rental house but I couldn't seem to take myself on a hike or mountain/road bike ride. Cooking has never been a strength of mine so I didn't find the same joy in that creative outlet.  I was really struggling with my mental health. I went to see a therapist and she suggested getting a job. Staying at home just waiting wasn't good for my anxiety.  But I've been blessed with the choice to be able to be a stay at home mom. To solve a few of my d...

It rained all week. It was incredible. One day there was big black, purply clouds and thunder. It was amazing. I never knew how much I missed weather until these last few years.  At the end of the rain storms it started to clear up and then BAM, hail. So much hail. It was a miracle.  Roxy fell asleep on the barstool so I picked her up and snuggled her to the sound of the hail falling down outside. Sometimes the best things just happen! She looked like the most beautiful little princess when I laid her on the couch. She is growing up so fast. I love my days with her.  It was such a fun experience to see the hail and snuggle Roxy.  The mountains are white AND SO BEAUTIFUL. It's incredible to see snow in the mountains! I've really loved feeling like we have had a little bit of real Winter this year.  Breckie was at the neighbors house while it was hailing. I brought over her snow gear and she played in the hail with her ...

Roxy has been wearing the princess dresses lately and it's so cute. She was singing along to the Elsa karaoke and it was just too cute.  Later we painted.  She thought it was funny to paint a little on my face and then she licked her finger and washed it off my face... like the cutest little mama ever!  She still loves her baby dolls and has a special connection to her Baby Susie :) It's so fun watching your kids develop into little people! *Please ignore the baby mullet!!!  It's an awkward stage for growing hair. The only thing that works decent is pigtails but those little rubber bands can't feel good to wear all the time... so we support wild and free hair at home :)

Several days a week Breckie brings home papers that look like this. Her teacher reads a book and they draw a picture and write somethings about the story.  I especially love her drawings and lately she's been making a real effort (or her teacher is HIGHLY encouraging her) to sound out the words. I'd like to think it's all coming from her... but you never know with Breckie. She is quite deceptive. She likes to exaggerate and stretch the truth so I'm never quite sure.  Several months ago she came home with a new water bottle. She told me "Mrs. Thomas gave it to me." I thought that was very generous of her teacher since I'd just been sending her with a disposable water bottle re-filled each day.  A month or two later she came home with a super sparkly clip in the shape of a bow. It was SUPER cute! She told me again that "Mrs. Thomas gave it to me." I knew Mrs Thomas was an amazing teacher but she was blowing my mind with all...

One year, I remember my mom leaving a trail of hearts outside of my bedroom door to a Valentines bucket full of stuff.  I've always remembered how special I felt.  She sent a little box full of valentines candy and little toys for the kids. I cut out hearts (a different color for each kid) and made a trail of their toys and candy to their valentines gift from me.   I made them each a little Valentines card telling them how much I love them :) Breckie told me she especially loved me for the lipstick I bought her :) Breckie even woke up Roxy to show her her trail of hearts and candy.  I left Jake a trail of chocolate to more chocolate and his giant Valentines card.  I love my people. Everett is starting to get harder to parent (my parents told me the sweet spot was between age 5-8 and they are right!) but he's still young enough for Valentines day to be fun!  It's also my dad's birthday. He would have ...

Jake and I went to a taco social at the church last week. Our neighborhood is growing so fast that it's hard to meet all the new people or know who is new and who isn't.  Unfortunately it landed on the same night and at the same time as the daddy/daughter dance at the elementary school.  Jake and Breckie opted to do a date the next night instead of the dance so that Jake and I could go to the taco social.  It ended up being really fun. We didn't get to meet anyone new but we strengthened some existing friendships so that was good. And the tacos (and cupcakes!) were delicious. Jake and I got honorable mention in the salsa contest... thanks to Costco 😆 The next night 3 dads go together and took out their daughters. Breckie got all dressed up. She wore a dress, we curled her hair super nice, we pained fingers and toes (pink with glitter), she did her own make up and wore some of my super fancy earrings.  They went out to dinner, got milksh...

Roxy is growing up so fast! She is hilarious!! We have real conversations and she asks me some pretty legit questions. It's fun watching your kids grow! (except that Everett and Breckie have been pretty sassy lately 😲)  But, I guess they can only stay little for so long. We switched Roxy to a twin bed (only because Everett climbed in her crib with her and they jumped until the springs broke) but it's been a fairly easy transition (other than Roxy being super concerned and asking me: "why are you breaking my bed?" when I took her crib apart).  Two days later I threw her bottles away. I was just tired of washing them. But she's been super fine with that too.  Now we just need to get her potty trained 😰

Everett's silver tooth had a big hole in it and it was obvious he had another cavity... so we were WAY past due to take the kids to the dentist.  In fact, Breckie and Roxy had never even been 😱 Everett ended up having FOUR cavities and they had to re-fill in the silver tooth like a cavity.  But thank goodness the girls didn't have any.  Breckie has one molar and one loose tooth (bottom middle :)  Roxy was AHHHHHH-MAZING and let the hygienist clean her teeth and look all around and everything looks good.  Everett had to get his work done in two different visits. Before the second early morning visit, Jake realized he didn't brush his teeth so he asked Everett if he wanted to chew some gum and take a drink of water (for fresh breath I guess :) and Everett goes: "Oh dad, we can't chew gum anymore! Last time, at the dentist, I read all about gum disease and I don't want to get it" I just love him!

Everett has been riding his bike to school lately so Roxy and I have been taking Breckie. We either take the stroller or bike trailer and then we go on a walk or ride after we drop her off.  The morning weather is my FAVORITE right now! So crisp and refreshing! Breckie wanted to be extra cozy one morning and put on a hat and then wore slipper socks on her hands because she couldn't find any gloves :) And there's Roxy, always admiring Breckie! It's like a repeat of me and Montana.  And Everett's test answer cracked me up! He's such a smart and funny little guy :)

Everett and Breckie played the cup game at the counter last night (3 of the same cups + one ball... guess what cup the ball is under).  It was so cute for such a techie kid to be amused by a simple game! 

Every month the school district picks a positive attribute and the teachers nominate students that exemplify that attribute. This month the attribute was kindness and Breckie's teacher nominated her. She got picked as the one student to represent her school.  She got to be recognized at the school board meeting (with the other students representing their school within the district).  This is the letter her teacher wrote nominating her. It's SO sweet! The paper Mrs. Thomas references: Breckie really is kind. She is very giving and generous. She has always reminded me a lot of Montana.  All of her papers have hearts, rainbows and smily faces on them :) Most of the time the hearts have smily faces inside of them! Speaking of hearts and kindness... we were heart attacked the other night.  Everett got a kick out of the "marry me"! We are so thankful for kindness others show us and the kindness Breckie shows ...