A Touch Of Tyrell

In the act of juggling life and all that I want to get out of it, the blogging ball got dropped. And that's ok. Kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 6th grade for my kids might just have to exist only in their memory because I didn't do a very good job at documenting it. I've been busy this last year (I mean, I did only post 6 times 😅) moving again, establishing ourselves again, raising kids, etc but this year has brought a lot of opportunity for emotional growth. It's been a lot to sort out and experience and I don't really know if I'd want that experience heavily documented or to have accessible to the general public.... however few might stumble upon it.  I think the best option I have is to just start back up where life is now and catch up on important things as I'm able.  The second half of August marked the beginning of school. Everett started 7th grade/middle school. He's been reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid since the 2nd grade and has been excitedly lookin...

Breckie got to go to a dance camp with Faith the first week of Summer.  She really loved it and it was fun to see her perform the dances she learned.   

Breckie was baptized two days after her birthday.  Both sets of Grandparents arrived late on the night of her birthday.  Jake baptized her. She looked so cute in her white dress and flower crown.  We decorated with white balloons and I made the same giant #8 with lifetime pictures of Breckie like I did with Everett.  We had lunch back at the house and ate sandwiches, fruit, chips and cookies.  It was crazy stressful (for me) throwing two parties with only one day in between and hosting all the visiting family. But Breckie felt so loved and so special so it was worth it.   

Breckie's eighth birthday was during Spring Break.  She decided on a tropical theme.  Together, we decorated the Luau treats. *Everett added the angry face We spent SOOOOO much time planning and prepping and on ONE of her friends was in town for the party. So we invited the whole Smith family.  We had smoked, pulled pork, coconut mango rice, hawaiian rolls, Italian sodas with bamboo straws and little umbrellas, fruit kabobs, luau dancer rice krispy treats and flip flop nutter butters.  We had a hula hoop contest and played pin the sunglasses on the pineapple.  And then lemon cake and presents.  She got coloring stuff, crafty stuff, a slime kit and a stuffed animal (tuktuk).  I'm pretty sure she had a great birthday!  

Roxy has had some fun stealing my phone and taking pictures... so then I made her take some with me! She is still a MAJOR fan of mac & cheese and once even helped me make it.  Breckie is constantly drawing and writing notes. I just think they are too cute... my treasure boxes are all getting stuffed! Roxy has been drawing too. Just people (with no bodies :) She drew her people on her Valentines cards... she also likes crafts and wants to buy one of everything when we go to a craft store.  I did let her get this wind chime though. She painted it and hung it in the playhouse outside.  Our girls are so fun and cute but also REALLY, REALLY messy!!!  

It would be my dad's birthday today... it's the third one we've passed since he has. I miss him all of the time and he's in every detail of my life, including this blog.  He was my main source of motivation and encouragement to document all things. Now it almost seems like baggage... like a chore.  But for whatever reason, I'm still here posting unflattering pictures and documenting parts of my life that could easily be forgotten. Like Roxy's new trick of fitting in my shirt with me... how much closer can this girl get to me!! Our friend Maghen is really into oils and has gotten Breckie into them too. She let Breckie borrow a diffuser with oils to help her sleep. Breckie included some cute notes for when she will return it :) Roxy and Hunter have been carpooling to/from preschool for the last few months. Sometimes they are buds... sometimes they're not! *picture on the right was from their preschool valentines day party Breckie was loving Grammy doing her ha...

Breckie has grown SOOO much this school year in her reading and writing.  She's struggled the last 2 years but something finally clicked and it's great! And her drawings are always so cute and clever!  

One of the neighbor girls has really, really been wanting to babysit. I also had an engagement shoot in Scottsdale on a Friday night and Jake thought we could turn it into a date... so we had her come babysit for us.  We were gone for a big chunk of the evening and for bedtime.  I found these notes on Breckie's door when we got home and I LOVED them!!! I know I'm such a nerd for being so obsessed with my kids, but I just am.  **I am not asleep. Mom, I miss you so much and I can't fall asleep but I can write in my journal and lay in my bed and I tried to tell Layla but she said No I have to go to bed at 7:30 You are taking me to the park helping me practice my rollerskates*** And sure enough, the next day she roller staked all around the kitchen and actually got pretty good! I was so proud of her for finding things to do in her room and following the babysitters rules (even though I said bedtime was 8-8:30!) She's growing up so fast!

Breckie is amazing a writing notes and drawing cute pictures. One day she randomly wrote Everett this note and but it on his pillow.  It was such a sweet gesture.  Even sweeter that Everett turned it over and wrote a reply!   I'd have to say, the kids are all at really amazing ages right now. They play well and get along for the most part. We're really lucky to be a family!

I walked into our bedroom the other day and was a little shocked when I saw this drawing on my nightstand! I wasn't 100% sure if it was from Jake or Breckie! Turns out Breckie drew me a "giraffe with it's long neck and head bent down like this" She's such a little sweetheart and is always drawing me pictures and making me things (like our friendship rainbow drawing we each keep our half in our nightstands). Lately she has been posting announcements on her bedroom door too. This one was my favorite (other than the "DO NOT INTR") from last week: *Do not come in. I am reading  

The kids got to go to school for real today! All day I was feeling grateful, relieved, thankful, glad.  It was a big milestone and I'm so grateful that we were able to do it. Breckie thrives on in-person learning and online learning was ALMOST the death of our relationship.  Everett exceeds either way but MUCH prefers going to school in person.  They both came home SO happy and full of energy.  They are both happy with their teachers and both said they made a new friend.  It's good for everyone in our family that school is back in session (some families are nervous and would rather continue online learning).  Roxy watched the iPad for 6 hours while I cleaned my heart out.  (I do this any time guests leave our house. I clean and clean and clean.) I cleaned for all 7 hours they were gone and it felt amazing. I LOVE a clean, quiet house!  

So much has happened in the last month. It's all really great stuff... I just kind-of feel dumb for 'wasting' all of the quarantine time and just not getting caught up then.  Like taking Roxy's 4-year pictures.  I took them two months late... and literally took them in the park behind our house 20 minutes before Jake and I went on a date. That's just how life is sometimes, I guess.  After all of the emotions early July brought (the 10 days in Colorado + all the healing that went on in the days since) I was feeling a little sad for myself.  I was just feeling like I didn't have very many friends.  I reached out to an old friendship that needed mending, so I had that 'girl date' to look forward to. I was still feeling pretty low when two other friends invited us to meet them at the community pool. It's not our most favorite place to go (it just seems like it could use a little extra cleaning :) but I felt so special being invited! It was good to reconn...